Group Digi-Pak

Our Digi Pak is based upon the Metallica – Unnamed Feeling limited edition CD case (Digi Pak). It consists of tree panels and two sides, based upon this layout we had to create 10 photo/images, to fill these panels we have used some duplicates. For example; the sides of the case (where the hinges would be located) are both the same image. This is a simple design; A white background with “Mixy Windowsill Limited Edition” wrote in the font, ‘Helvetica’ in italic. We have used this same font throughout our project (To create familiarity between the products)

Inside of the Digi Pak Middle-CD Holder

CD design



Left-Middle flap Middle-Back cover Right-Front cover

The inside consists of five panels. Two sides, a middle and then the sides (hinges). The inside panels are sections of the same one image, giving a nice consistent horizon going across the whole inside. This provides a nice simple look that is interesting and pleasant to look at but doesn’t have too much going on to distract the viewer. We have also included a sample of what it might look like to have some of the lyrics printing on the inside using the chorus of the song. We also created a CD that goes along with the internal panels. The CD’s image is the same as the image behind it. This is a very common lay out for digi paks (complying with codes and conventions). We intentionally used an image with the coffee cup from the front cover placing the word “Windowsill” in the middle so it will fit onto the CD.

For the front cover we decided to have the cups from the video (the ones that ‘The ex’ and ‘The girl’ used). This made the Digi Pak relate and connect to the video. Whilst shooting this picture we came up with the idea of writing the title of the song and the album on the cups, this allowed the image to be more interactive. We then also used an image of one cup on its own, we did this to represent the break up within the video. With the break up being the main narrative throughout the song and video, the two cups represent the first date the couple went on and the cup on its own represents how the ex went back to the scene and is now alone. Further symbolism comes from the flower. Without watching the video it may seem insignificant, however, within the narrative of the video the Ex buys a bouquet of flowers. This was to try and win back the girl. In one scene the ex throws away the bouquet but holds onto one flower. The last scene of the music video shows the ex walking towards the edge of a roof (looking as if he is going to jump). When he gets to the edge he throws the flower as a symbol of him admitting the relationship has ended and he is letting go.

Rough DigiPak

MIXY
THE MMXI MIXTAPE

Reseach and Planning. This is a rough idea of what our digi pak will look like.
INSIDE OF DIGIPAK

This is a image of my finished Digi Pak, the left side is the same image as the front cover which I hand drew myself using pen, using photoshop i have erased the writing 'Mixy The MMX mixtape', and I have added the lyrics to the song ‘Windowsill’. I have done the same with the middle image but I have also erased the photograph and mug. The right side is a image of Mixy which I got from the filming, this indicates who the singer of the single is, I have also edited this using photoshop so it fits in with the colours of my drawing.

FRONT COVER OF DIGIPAK

This image shows the front of my Digi Pak. The image is hand drawn, i have then edited the image using photoshop so the back looks like the back of the window, i have added in the bricks so it looks like a picture from the outside looking in. On the side of my Digi Pak using very simple lettering it says 'Mixy Windowsill' i have done this in a dark green so it fits in with the colours already used. On the inside cover i have used the same theme of the windowsill and the green coloured font. This page simply says 'The new MMXI mixtape from Mixy' This is so when people open it up they can instantly relate to the album as being new and they know who its by. 

Final Website

Above is a screenshot of our final website.

We created this website through a free online service called Wix. They allow you create your own free website which is hosted on their servers. It won't carry a domain name e.g. Www.example.com but instead follows the format; Www.wix.com/YourUserName/SiteName. This is due to it being hosted on their servers so it carries their name.

The Wix method of creating a website is a very user-friendly, sandbox style. To impliment anything we desired was clearly labled and easily accessable. Thanks to this we were able to create a professional, sleek looking website without the hassle of coding, etc!

The choices we made in designing the website however were very well thought out and each object has a specific purpose. For example, we have kept the font used the same throughout our production, both in the video, digi pak and the website. This was to create familiarity and for the products to show resembalance to each other allowing them to be easily associated with one another.
Because the main focus of our production is the featured song, just a single track not an ablum we made sure the most noticable title on the website was the name of the track. The name of the artist we made smaller but in bold so it still stands out against the rest of the page. We placed this above the name of the track as it follows codes and conventions to have the artists name first.

We chose a simplistic, clean theme to our website, so it still looks professional and sleak whilst remaining uncluttered and easy to navigate for users. The theme carries meaning to the selected track. The background chosen is of one of the photos from our digi pak (The rear image). Also it is a picture of a windowsill linking into the track, and is from a location within the video. Through the use of this we have succesfully linked all three products together. However, we also chose the image as we felt its gentle nature helped create the 'cool' calm look we was going for. We matched the text and overall colour scheme for the website around this to create gentle blending making it look very appealing. The photo is also 'empty' which provides zero distraction to the audience.
The navigation bar also follows the simplistic manner, with the navigation buttons becoming highlighted by blue when you roll your mouse over them, again matching the colour scheme but also provides effective functionallity without being 'in your face'.

The website follows the standard codes and conventions of a music/artist's website by featuring the artists name, content directly relevant to them such as pages of 'About' providing information on the artist, a page of their albums, showing off their music and a contact page.

All the links on the website are fully functional, leading to pages with content. Whilst this was not required we went ahead and did it to give our website a more completed feel. One of the buttons leads to a page called "Albums". This provides working download links to each of Mixy's avaliable albums, we also included this down the site of the main page, as an extra touch.

We made our music video production the main feature of the front page, as this is what the website was about and formed around. Having it placed in the centre of the main page makes it the first thing seen by the audience, it is also set to auto-play. This was done to make sure it was the main focus of the audience visiting the page.

Overall, we are very happy with our website and how it has turned out. We feel that through the choices we made in theme, features and functuality that it effectivly achieved the intended purpose of being nice to look at, informational and entertaining.

Filming Roles

For our video we wanted to have the artist singing the song, with a narrative running through out it, helping to break up the shots. For this we asked the singer to wear his favourite outfit, we also had some friends to act out the narrative. We felt that this gave it a more professional feel, making it appear as if we have hired actors this also allow us to relieve some of the pressure from the artist (as he had a very busy schedule). Below is the list of talent, hands on set and their rolls.

• Fran - Actress
• Ralph - Actor
• Mixy - Artist/Main Talent
• Liam - Actor/Camera Assistant
• Connor - Director/Camera Man
• Cameron - Camera Assistant/General Helper
• Ralph's Friend - Extra

As for costumes we asked everyone involved with filming to wear "causal" clothes, that wouldn't be too in your face. We also asked Fran and Liam to wear some vibrant colours to help differentiate them (The happy couple) from Ralph (the depressed ex); we feel that this was achieved very well.

The rolls of the Actors and Actress:

• Liam's roll was the "New Guy" a.k.a. the girl’s new boy friend. We attempted to keep his roll to a minimum so that he doesn't seem to be a key roll to the narrative.
• Fran's roll was one of the key rolls to the story, as she was the girlfriend linking all of the characters, we have attempted to show this through many shots of her. To make sure she doesn't steal the limelight, we included Ralph in allot of these.
• Ralph's roll was the most important of all as he was representing Mixy. This is only a representation and he is not suppose to look like Mixy it is almost as if Mixy is singing about Ralph instead of himself. To make sure that this is apparent to the audience we included many shots of Ralph on his own, this accompanied with the Title effect post (http://connora2media.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/editingshot-ideas.html) should help the audience identify him as the main character.

Filming

Today  we started filming the story sequences for our music video. we want to try and portray a break up from the point of view of the dumpie (person being dumped). we have based this story on the impression the song and lyrics give; matching shots to lyrics. unlike a film there is no chronological order however, we didn't go in guns a blazing; ordering and planing our using a shot list a posed to a storyboard. This let us get a great idea as to which shots we wanted for different stanzas.
Above is an example of one of the shots that we intend to use in our video, in this you see Ralph (our leading character) through a bouquet to the floor. we have taken into consideration use of depth of field, this helps to make the flowers the main focal point. by doing this it lets the views see how important the flowers are to the story, to do this we used a lens with wide aperture. the problem with this is guaranteeing that the flowers were in focus; we used a reasonably low f/stop as to make sure that it is not too restrictive.
The clothing our characters are wearing is very casual, this fits in with the music and the video settings and contents.
We managed to gather a wide range of our shots and  have only a few left to record.
We are planning on getting more filming done very soon.

Storyboard

We developed a story board of scenes we wanted to film after brainstorming ideas between the group, coming up with a series of shots which we hoped will create the quality final product we are aiming to achieve. 
We took this with us when we went filming, as a guide line to follow of shots we needed. 
This storyboard does obviously not cover all the shots we had in the end, as whilst on-set filming we'd come up with new ideas or new ways to do things.

Lyrics To Chosen Song

There was a time when our limit was the sky we were living in our lives .......... and we thrived but it turned out i was not willing to slide i played the villian when you cried tears spilling from your eyes now why i had you feeling that inside and feeling what i find left conclealing it with lies the feeling i find is feeling the pride cause the dont give the right for me to winge and whine cause you're with a guy

But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real
Cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real.. (echos)

Back in the day when i met and asked your name text your number and you came for a drink call it a datee we sat down had a chat and it was great in the quiet little place i grew acustomed to your face thenn we grew closer in the way awkward silence never came life was our own little game we got caught in up in the play never thought about the pain and i sought've am to blame maybe i ought to ran away

But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

Cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real
Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real (echos)

winter mornings dont wanna get outta bed water runs down the glass the sky is grey the land is wet the sea is wild the breeze is fresh the air is cold the feelings old the people are depressed the windows condensation is ..... the offices people work in to the houses the people living in the buses and classrooms covered in scribblin mirrors in bathrooms steamed up (mist riddled in?) movement and individuallity finger-tips slip on the glass a playful grasp on reality part of the daily loosening grip on sanity portraying crazy mood swings ... and clarity anything to cope with the cold daydreaming waiting for the sun to glow and bring hope wrapped up in jacket scalf rolled round throat fighting the elements till the low feeling goes like the snow

(muffled volume) But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real (muffled volume)

But i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real

Cause i still got your picture on my windowsill i still hear your voice in the night when i'm sitting still things need to get better you never think it will fed up left cut tell me this isn't real
Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real Tell me this isn't real (echos)


'...' indicates missing words

Highlighted words indicate words that i feel will inspire my images used and design decisions when creating a digipak for this song.