Production: Final Draft for Front Cover of Digipak

This is the final draft of the front cover I will be using for my digipak. I have took into consideration how the legitimate album cover looks, as it follows no conventions of rap digipaks, I have decided to experiment on Photoshop and have come up with a digipak front cover which I think suits the album. I have created this Logo on Photoshop, I have done this due to the like between Kanye West's nickname 'Yeezus' and 'Jesus'. I have merged the 'Y' from 'Yeezus' which represents Kanye, with the cross which Jesus was put upon to create this new symbol. I have also added the conventional 'Parental Advisory' logo to warn parents that there are explicit lyrics in the songs on the album.

Production: Further Front Cover Mock Ups

Further Mock Ups

These are some more mock ups for the front cover of my digipak, I have used Photoshop to experiment with different ideas.

Production: Initial Front Cover Mock Ups

Digipak Mock Ups

These are just some of the mock ups which I may use for my digipak. I will look further into the production of album artwork to see if I can make any digipak front covers which would suit the album more.

Planning: Mise-en-Scene

For the music video, the actor will need to be a grey jumper with any coloured shirt underneath, He would need no props as I plan to use none in the music video. The actor will show no emotion on his face as he is sending a political message and the lyrics are serious. The setting for the music video will be outiside at night with a light shining on the artist so that we can see him and the black and white effect which I will be using will work. He will also have a chain around his neck which can be compared to typical rap conventions with the rapper wearing gold chains.

Planning: Equipment List

To produce my music video I will be using:

1. Video Camera. I will use the video camera so that I could shoot the footage needed for the music video.

2. Tripod. I will use the tripod so that the video camera will stay still for the duration of the footage shooting.

3. Mobile Phone (Samsung Galaxy Note 2) I will use my phone for lighting purposes so that I would be able to get a spotlight on the actor.

4. Lighting. I will use lighting so that I can get a spotlight on the actor who is going to be lip syncing.

5. Computer. I will use a computer with the right software so that I will be able to edit my music video and put it together.

Planning: Crew/Prop/Location List

Crew List

Camera men: James Stephenson, Jacob Harper

Actors/Artists: Callum Hill, James Stephenson

Prop List

No props needed. I do not need any props as in the music video I am going to just have simple shots of the head and upper torso of the actor as I am taking inspiration from the official 'New Slaves' Video. Also, I am going to have different shots and movements to follow a person walking down a long path.

                                                                           Location

For the Location I have chosen to shoot my music video in a darkened room with a spotlight on the actor. I have taken inspiration from the official video for 'New Slaves' where Kanye West has a spot light on him with a plain background. I have also chose to use a long path and have a person walking down to represent a new slave.





Planning: Shooting Schedule

DAY / TIME	LOCATON	SHOT DESCRIPTION	PEOPLE NEEDED
26th June 2014	My house	Camera will be set up for a close up head shot	Callum Hill James Stephenson
28th June 2014	My house	I will set up the camera so that the actors head and upper torso is in the shot, also, I will zoom in to get a close up for part of the rap.	Callum Hill James Stephenson
3rd July 2014	Tracks near my house	The camera man will take multiple recordings of the actor walking down the tracks from different angles and different movements.	James Stephenson Jacob Harper

Planning: Storyboard

This is the storyboard I have created for my music video. I will try and follow this all the way through the music video.

Planning: Software Used

The pieces of software which I will use for my music video for things such as editing and creating a storyboard are:

• Photoshop CS6
• Fireworks CS6
• Adobe Premiere Elements 12

Research: Representation in Music Videos

Research: Digipak Analysis 3 - Collision Course

The album 'Collision Course' is a collaboration album between rapper Jay-Z and punk band Linkin Park and the digipak reflects this through its artwork and theme. The use of graffiti styled prints and stencils shows the street based style of the music. the cover of the digipak (top right) is very busy, showing graffiti of things such as microphones and speakers, which can be seen to be linked with the hip-hop theme of the album represented by JayZ. There is also a punk type look to the cover, with the style of writing and background being very busy and straight edged.

The back of the digipak is of similar background to the cover, but just a stencil so that the songs on the album can easily be read. Aswell as this, there is the barcode and legal advisory on the back. The middle of the digipak shows similar images of graffiti and sharp text, further showing the mash up of the hip-hop/and punk music. the design of the CD is normal and does not challenge or confirm any of the conventions for this type of album.

Research: Digipak Analysis 2 - Watch the Throne

 

This is the digipak for Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Watch the Throne'. From the top part of the image we can see that the digipak does correspond with the title of the album, this is because when you think of a throne you think of gold and carvings, which is represented by the top part of the image which is the outside of the digipak. The inside of the digipak shows an American flag, 2 images of Jay-Z and Kanye West merged with an animal which is also seen to be used by the illuminati, and the other image is of angels. This could show their interest in the illuminati as they have been believed to be followers of it. This digipak does not follow the conventions of a typical rap digipak.

Research: Digipak Analysis 1 - Yeezus

The images we see on the digipak are relevant to the digipak as Kanye West is a believer of Christianity, hence the title of the album 'Yeezus', which is a mix of Kanyes nickname (Yeezy) and the lord of Christianity (Jesus). On all of the images you can see that the eyes of the people have had something put over them, this could be to show that the religion has turned a blind eye or not seen how bad racism can be, and since the album is mainly about racism and sending out a political message and also about Kanye's faith, this is relevant to the digipak. This digipka does not follow the typical conventions of a rap digipak.