DIGIPAK: Research

I looked at three different digipaks, two from the indie genre and one from a pop genre to see the contrast and tried to notice common conventions and distinctive features on each.



Front Cover
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Kasabian Empire (Indie)

Pixies Indie Cindy (Indie) 

Sam Smith In The Lonely Hour (Pop)

The three front covers I looked at, these are the common conventions:

• Front Cover image/design 
• Band name + Album title
• Parental Advisory Sticker (if needed) 
• Stickers to highlight special edition or limited edition explaing whats in it

Not much different rather than a striking image on all of them which the audience will recognise. Also increases chances of being noticed in a CD store or another retailer such as US number 1 retailer Walmart.

Possible Influences
Sticker with limited edition
Striking cover

Back Cover
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Ariana Grande Yours Truly (Pop)

Arctic Monkeys AM (Indie) 

Oasis Stop The Clocks (Indie/Pop)

These are the three back covers I looked at. Common Conventions are:

• Track list
• Barcode
• Copyright statement
• Copyright logos
• All these will be on our digipak

The recipe is seems very similar just with different art styles, Indie being a bit more subtle sans serif bold font whereas Ariana Grande has a serif bold font and has colour coded where someone is featured. The font is also pink rather than white. Arctic Monkeys and Oasis have also gone for a design as a back cover rather than an image of the band or lead singer etc.

Possible Influences
Track list + copyright statement + barcode and copyright logos + record lable logos

Inside Cover
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Coldplay Ghost Stories (Soft Rock/Pop)

Depeche Mode Violator (Dance/Indie) 

Metallica, Metallica (Heavy Metal)

 There are a few common conventions I can spot here but each seems to have a small difference.

• Copyright logos
• Compact disc logo
• Band name on CD + Album Name
• Tracklist on CD
• Blank or minimal inside cover

I also noticed that Metallica has the track list on the inside as well as on the CD where Coldplay has the copyright statement on the CD and Depeche mode has both the copyright statement and tracklist. Depeche Mode inside cover on the left has the record company name and a P.O box for fans "Depeche Mode fanclub".

Possible influences
I think we might go for a minimalist design, maybe with the band being part of the both sides.

Spine
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Queen Greatest Hits ll (Classic Rock)
David Bowie Changesbowie (Dance/Pop)
AQUA Aquarium (Electro/Dance)

Common conventions:

• Band name/logo
• Album Title
• Serial Number (with letters) 
• Mainly formatted album title in middle with band name a bit to the left

There is also a universal logo for aqua album 

Possible  Influences

We will have both band name + album title and serial number, maybe even the band logo

Influences for Music Video

PITCH: Preparation and Planning

The Artist/Track + Their Audience:

• Welshly Arms - Locked
• 6 band members
• Lead Singer
• Drummer
• Bass Guitar
• Guitarist  

The Idea, Synopsis:

Narrative + Performance footage

• Narrative
• Bad Relationship they can't get out of
• Or bad breakup where they can't get over their ex
• Nightmares/ Flashbacks
• Footage from during and after relationship
• Crosscut - elliptical (vernallis) 
• INSERT LYRIC QUOTES HERE Goodwin (lyrics link to narrative) 
• Propp?
• Todorov?
• Binary opposition?
• Performance
• Derelict building 
• Run-down, graffiti
• Rocks etc.
• Forest? (Make it a living room style) 

Influences:

• Travis Scott - SICKO MODE
• Smoke bomb
• Skrillex - where are you now
• Face paint
• A2 Joe - Nine Inch Nails 'Sunspots'
• Face paint
• A2 Adels - Halsey 'Control'
• POV and effects
• Travis Scott - Butterfly effect
• SFX
• Kendrick Lamar - Humble
• SFX and editing
• Underwater in with GoPro
• NEEDS TO BE CLEARER (We saw, we did)

Key Characters: Representation, Costume:

• 6 band members in performance 
• 2 in narrative 
• Couple
• Possibly LGBTQ+
• Race
• Relationships
• Sexual orientation
• Gender
• Queering

Location scouting:

• TBC - Derelict run down building
• Woods/Forest - Flashbacks and dreams
• Kirchberg - Lights + large buildings
• City centre
• Christmas time - lights between buildings
• Grund - Cobbled streets, tight roads with buildings

Health + Safety:

• Derelict buildings could have dangers
• Sharp objects, loose rocks etc.
• Transportation risks 

Secondary Texts: Website, Digipak, Social:

• Facebook
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• Contact band/ management, use fan forum

Sum Up:

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Pitch Presentation from ChristianStricks

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GENERAL CONVENTIONS 10: Possible influences SUMMARY

Possible Influences (1)

• Have lyrics link to whats happening (false paradise)
• Follow the narrative structure of Todorov to a certain extent (open narrative?)
• Lip syncing  during performance 
• Have certain proppian archetypes

Possible Influences (2)

• Have a limited amount of male/female gaze
• Appropriate costumes that are genre specific to Indie/Alternative Rock
• Mainly low key lighting
• Have locations suitable to narrative/performance
• Genre specific makeup 
• Performance needs to be genre specific to Indie/Alternative

Possible Influences (3)

• Maybe intertextuality to other music videos 

Possible Influences (4)

• Have both Countertypes + Stereotypes in characters
• Challenge some normative representations 
• Male/female gaze to a certain extent 

Possible Influences (5)

• Special effects at drop
• Have editing pace link to pace of track at some points
• Large shot variety 
• Layering in post production
• Attempt robot arm movement 
• Have variety of stable camera angles + handheld (stabilized when appropriate) 

Possible Influences (6)

• Create competition where "fans" enter with their own UGC 
• Have a "fan" create lyric video
• Encourage UGC through social media

Possible Influences (7)

• Create 1 take video
• Create lyric video 
• Have 2 music videos

Possible Influences (8)

• Advertise upcoming video on social media
• Have sneak peaks post on social media
• Upload music video to multiple platforms 

Possible Influences (9)

• Have album cover, website banner or front page, social media banners, music video etc. all link together
• Maybe link 2 or more of album art, music video etc.