Album Cover Analysis #2

Metallica are famous for not only their music but also for their album work, the font for Metallica has become very unique and famous, which will make it easier for customers to know who the band is and also in the imposing font also gives a clue to the genre of music that the band are into. The large hands in the corner holding the strings to the crosses represents a higher source, this will relate to religious meaning and the large number of crosses with the helmet on the side on a cross is a representation of the many grave stones of the world war two. This album has both religious and historic meaning. The title ‘Master of Puppets’ will relate to the meaning that we are being controlled by someone higher than us, this could mean through god or even down to everyday life such as laws and rules. The colour in the background near the horizon of the picture is a red almost orange which has a number of different meanings such as blood and passion or danger. The grass on the ground has a lack of green colour which would mean that the grass is dying or died which reiterates the many lives lost in world war two.

Album Cover Analysis #1

The Album London calling by The Clash an English punk band has a lot of intertextual and symbolic meaning behind the image. For example if we compare this album cover with Elvis you can clearly see a similarity between the two, with the same font and colours, in the same area on the cover. The image is slightly different with The Clash smashing the guitar on the ground, as Elvis is playing the guitar. By having a band member smash the guitar is highlights there attitude towards social media and other world issues, it shows a rebellious side, a modern rock n roll image. It highlights the ‘punk’ genre within the band. To highlight the similarities between both pictures you can clearly see that they are both black and white, this clearly shows that The Clash who became famous twenty years after Elvis did, the London Calling album has a clear aim to copy and then show no respect and almost an anger towards Elvis, but it definitely highlights the rebellious attitude towards music.

Video Timeline

Final Music Video Treatment

The song is called Anarchy, and the name of our band/ DJ is Strio which means War in Islandic. The video is based around two old ladies who, whilst going about their daily routine, spot one another across the street when on their mobility scooters. In an almost Tarantino style, an extreme close-up on each of the granny’s is pulled to show their reactions as they eye one another up. 

At this point both are waiting at a level crossing and the traffic light is red. This footage is all briefly intercut with scenes of the supposed DJ ‘Strio’ performing at a rave scene with a large audience. 

After the song builds up in pace where we introduce both of the main characters, we hear the drop and the traffic light turns to green and the granny’s speed off on the scooters. During the race they fight to take the lead, one of the granny’s then tries to overtake but is stopped by the other lady who is swinging her walking stick at her. 

The video ends with the leading granny pulling away and effectively winning this spontaneous race whilst the other one has stopped and given up. During this section of the video it will all be shot in slow motion at 50fps whilst the live performance elements will be shot at a regular speed of 25fps.

Music Video Pitch (New idea)

FINAL VIDEO PITCH 

Development of our Music Treatment Idea

When we discussed our initial idea treatment to Luke, he highlighted key points which will make oiur video verry challenging to film, Luke highlighted that we will find it very difficult to have the freedom to film in any location we want, he told us that it would be hard to find the right location for our video wsithout having to contact the owners or anyone who lives there, since we want to find a run down street, people who live there may be insulted by our representation of characters in the video. Also since we want to film a violent scene in public, people who see the fight may think it is real, and therefore the police could stop the filming. This is why filming in public locations such as streets, car parks and highstreets can become costly and difficult. In my opinion location is our biggest worry since we won't have a budget and we also won't be able to find the right location quickly. Another problem highlighted were the characters, Luke told us that we may find it difficult to cast the right characters from people at Hurtwood, which means we would need to look outside of school for to take part in our video.

One development of our treatment was the plot, instead of having on big fight, we have decided to add a narrative, where a small time dealer gets beaten up by three rival gang members/drug dealers, we then see this injured dealer struggle back to his house/safe house/ drug den, where his bos becomes raged with anger and vengeance agfainst these rival gang members/drug dealers for injuring his friend. The boss and others decide to go out and fight back against these rival gang members/ drug dealers, it then concludes with with a big fight at the end where the boss wins thew fight against these gang members/drug dealers.

The postives drawn from Luke was that this idea and treatment has the potential to be very good, but we face big obstacles to achieve this. We still have a lot to develop but I think that our idea can be effective and will be a successful music video.

Music video ideas #1

Name of Artist: Enter Shikari, Constellations
Star Image: They are a UK based band which have now become national known for there mix of heavy rock with some hints of electronic beats. Many of there songs also have messages which they want to portray by using the lyrics in the songs. The messages are usually on the lines of the environment, drugs and world peace. This will increase there star image because it shows that there band has a purpose and its not out there just to create music but also to help people and to spread the knowledge of world problems. In there latest album they have introduced more electronic sounds into there music, which could be a decision to diversify into different mix of genres and therefore a wider and greater fan base. Enter shikari are similar to Fight like apes and Flobots. Most of their songs are about society and world problems.

The song is quite simple since the lyrics clearly set a scene and mood which could be literally portrayed on the video, the song is also called constellations which are stars, this song is a metaphor for someones journey through there life where you will meet other people and you joinery through life won't be on your own. This song is also one of the more meaningful and slower songs that Enter Shikari have released and this could be why it isn't one of their famous ones because it is untraditional in it content compared to the bands other songs.

When I listen to this song i can really picture in my mind what the band are trying to convey, i imagine the setting of the video in a run down small train station, with only a few people waiting at the station. The song is a narrative which means that the song has a story and characters and emotions. I also imagined using a certain grain to add a gritty/ depressing feel to the video.

Packing the last few shirts into a bloated suitcase (
The last glimpse of comfort and the ticking clock face 
I swear those hands move faster every day 
I'm more confused than ever but I don't beg or pray 'cause the 
Sparkling light from the morning sun 
Is all we should need to feel one. 

I reach the station with just minutes to spare, 
I glance at my watch time's going faster these days I swear, 
Eyes focus up now to the train time table board 
There's only two platforms to be explored, 
And it's then that I admit it to my self, 

That I am lost so lost 
But your the constellations 
That guide me 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/enter+shikari/constellations_20987087.html ] 
There's a train at 12, destination disaster. 
It's running on time as time runs faster 
On platform two it's destination sustainability 
It's delayed though it was suppose to arrive at 11:50. 
Platform one it says stand behind the yellow line 
But I sit on the platform edge and just gaze at the time. 

My mind wanders back to our oblivious existence 
I'm all choked up now with the threat of distance 
As the train bound for disaster chokes up to the station, 
I don't board it cause I decide that it's the wrong destination, 
But the train bound for sustainability is nowhere to be seen 

And I'm lost so lost 
Where are the constellations 
That guide me? 

And then I realize that 
We need to use our own two feet to walk these tracks, 
And we have to squad up and we have to watch each others backs, 
With forgiveness is our torch and imagination our sword 
Well I'll tie the ropes of hate and slash open the minds of the bored 
And we'll start a world so equal and free 
Every inch of this earth is yours all the land and all the sea 
Imagine no restrictions but the climate and the weather 
Then we can explore space together 
Forever 

And I'm lost so lost 
Where are the constellations And I'm lost so lost You are the constellation X5

Initial Group Idea

Idea #1
Our first group idea was 'Bonfire' by Knife Party, the genre of music is Moombahton/ Dubstep and a blend of Electro House. We discussed many differant treatments, and we decided on Bonfire because we all agreed as a group that the treatment for this song was the most creative and exciting compared to the other treatments. Our idea is set in a run down street which has very little life. We want to show a conflict between two rival gangs in abandoned streets. Maybe through drugs or territory. Using smoke machines and a brown grain in editing we want to create a gritty urban warfare. We would also use slow motion cameras to highlight the movement and emphasise facial expressions. We want to have two gangs fight each other either because or drugs or because of territory, we will have people fight each other with blunt weapons wearing masks or balaclavas to cover their faces. The two gangs will also wear differant colours to tell the audience the differant sides they represent.

The following video is a good example of the style of video we want to create but our iudea will be on a much smaller scale, this video is also using a high budget which we will not have, but it clearly states what our idea aims to look like.

The Year Ahead

What is expected of me?

A2:
20 Marks- Research and Planning - Blogs
60 Marks-Coursework
20 Marks-Exam evaluation
100 Marks- Summmer Exam

Advanced Portfolio:
This involves the producing a main artefact (music video) and two ancilliary artefacts (CD cover and magazine cover)

Critical perspectives:
An exam which i need to show an understanding of media theory towards the cases studied.

The following is a previous music video made by Hurtwood House students:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpnR1uOxC-M

Who I Am

My name is Andrew, i am currently studying my A levels at Hurtwood House. The reason I picked Hurtwood House was because of its great record of getting top Drama and Media Grades at A level. My experience of A levels so far have been fun and difficult all at the same time. Media I find enjoyable but also challenging in day to day lessons. I enjoy the team aspects of media, with camera work such as the thriller video for AS and the music video for A2. I also enjoy editing since its not like your average lesson. For more any infomation go onto my Twitter account at:

https://twitter.com/andrewjirving