3. Panel 1
Panel one of my print production is a very powerful shot from my music video
depicting the two characters standing apart as if torn from each other. The shot
shows them gazing into the distance onto Cromer beach from the pier.
I used this image to amplify the fracture in the relationship. The bleak seascape
suggests an undefined future. The breach is shown by the distance in the shot.
This can also be seen within my video where Megan visually fades out of Olivia's
life. I decided to use this powerful image in both my print production and my
music video to highlight the separation between the couple.
The image of Meg's character appears to be disappearing, as if blown away into
the wind further portraying her disappearance from the shot and therefore,
Olivia's life. This imagery is much like her characters fade out of shot, as
mentioned before. This links lyrically to the track 'Gather and Run' where
Natasha North sings 'Break this whirlwind that my body has become....and breath
your smoke into my lungs.’
Thematically, my Panel One design and music video are identical. I decided this
was the best approach because I did not want to contradict the convention and
notion of a coherent promotional package as to create a connection between my
music video and my print production. This further enhances the strength of the
advertising aim.
Generically, I use the same conventions within all productions. One example of
this would be the colours it is also an example of coherence. I use the same
colour scheme throughout my package, muted blues, reds and browns. This is a
convention of the indie-folk genre and would therefore fits perfectly throughout
the whole package. I chose the colour scheme of muted blues, reds and browns to
highlight the natural and autumnal atmosphere that I have created that is also a
generic convention.
Shots from music video
5. Panel 2 & 3
Panel Two and Three of my print production is a
joint panoramic image portraying Olivia's
character alone in a forest, covered in rays
from the sun through the trees. Once again I
have chosen to increase the negative space in
this image by using this panoramic layout across
the two panels. I have challenged the normal
conventions by including a gay relationship
instead of a heterosexual relationship.
The themes and visuals of my production, I have
kept an important connection between the lyrics
and the product. For example, in the fourth
verse, Natasha North sings 'Then we will turn
the burning sun.....To the forest we will gather
and run.’
The convention of the light rays and flares is
used throughout the genre like the images to the
right from Elli Goulding and One Direction
Examples of lens
flares in album
covers
The northerlies panel 2+3
design
Bill Callahan Panel 2+3 design
7. CD Print
The image on the CD shows the couple together hand in hand
bleached in the warmth of the sunlight. The happy scene is
surrounded by sun rays beaming down onto the couple,
surrounding them in a warm glow of love and contentment.
This ties the images on panel 1 and the music video
together, creating the message of love. This appeals to our
target audience as they can relate this image and the themes
within the productions to their own relationships.
In creating this image, I used composition to frame the
couple holding hands as one. They are facing the audience,
but you are unable to see their faces. This links to the
lyrics 'my hands are weak.....you pull me to the other side
so grab my heart and tie my tongue.'
Visually, the image is deliberately set to contrast light
and dark, much like being in a relationship and being
lonely. This is highlighting the binary opposition within
the themes of my productions, between reality and memory.
This is a convention of the genre which can be seen on many
album covers such as Ellie Goulding.
Ellie Goulding and The Head and
The Heart Album Covers.
9. Panel 4
Visually I have achieved this by using the typography, the location and
composition.
The theme of using negative space and the rule of thirds to reflect the
loneliness, emptiness and desolation of the relationship. This can be seen in
the video in the pier scene in which the characters are vulnerable in the
shot.
This shot is a shot from my music video and is directly after the unedited
version of the shot in panel one. This instantly creates a visual connection
between the productions.
The imagery of this shot is symbolic of her abandonment. She stands there
mourning over their relationship, looking out onto a bleak empty landscape.
These themes have a strong link to the themes conveyed in the music video
near the end in the pier scene. this Highlights the symbolism that the
environment has in my productions. The beach is bleak, empty and cold. Much
like the stage in which their relationship is.
I also reference the lyrics "but we're drowning in an ocean too deep" in this
image. This further underlines the recurring motif of the locations
interconnection with the characters bond. This link between nature and the
homosexual relationship has an underlining message of equality and
naturalness of all sexualities. This is a theme that runs throughout my
productions.
There is a strong coherence between panel one and panel four. Which adds to
the visual narrative of the panels representing the narrative from the video.
The first and last
iterations of my
tracklist cover.
11. Magazine advert
One of the main conventions of the medium of an advert in a magazine is to have the name
of the artist in large bold letters at the top of the image, in order to catch the
attention of the consumer reading this magazine. Promoting the artist (Natasha North) is
the key aim here and using her name in large encourages the audience to buy the album or
the single. This convention is one I have specifically chose to use, this is because the
name 'Natasha North' dominates the advert, making it impossible not to see when browsing
through this magazine. The large typography I have used connotes that there is
importance in her name and that it should be read and remembered. This is effective in
not only securing the name in their mind but it also makes the artist seem exciting and
relevant which creates a need for the consumers to have what the artist is offering,
further promoting them.
The name of the album also being large letters is another convention I have used.
However, as Goodwin's theory states it serves as an advertisement for the artist.
The way I have incorporated the text into the image is another key aspect here, I have
included the most important information that is vital for an advert, such as the date of
release and the name of the product and brand (Natasha North), but the design of the ad
also needs to be bold and memorable to catch the readers attention as they browse
through the magazine. That is why I used vibrant colours such as the reds and oranges of
autumn. These colours are vibrant and a convention of the medium because it draws the
eye and alerts the reader.
The main convention of the genre and the medium is the use of the imagery of the artist.
This creates a face for the consumer to identify the artists 'brand' as. This is an
effective way of creating the image of the brand for the artist, however, I challenged
this in my ad; largely due to my artist, Natasha North, being not well known to the
public artist, this meant that her image would not have an impact on how the readers
viewed this as it would be as recognisable as our performers. Therefore, I decided to
use the performers/actors from my music video instead.
