Here is my response to Question 2 for my A2 Media coursework. It is in discussion of my Music Video.

1. Steven Miles
Response To Question 2
I believe that our combination of main product and ancillary texts is a striking combination.
One of the main noticeable features of both the digipak and the music video itself is the use
of dark colours on both items. As well as this, there is a large reliance on the cars as
supporting items. Throughout the music video it is built on the basis of the use of and access
to cars, whether they are used as props, the main focus in the frame or as backdrops for
either the main star or the accomplice. Again, this reliance on cars is found in the digipak
too, despite the fact that the main front cover doesn’t feature a car; it is in my opinion still
strongly connected to the music video. My reasoning for this is due to the fact that both cars
found in the video are featured on the digipak, as well as this, both cars still accompany
both the star and the accomplice. In further addition to this, the setting of the digipak and
the setting in the music video can both be recognised and show a strong sense of continuity.
The continuity is strengthened in the fact that, in the music video, the same place where the
digipak shots are located can also be found within the music video.
Throughout the production of both the digipak and the music video, we were trying to
create an atmosphere of a clash between the UK grime scene and the typical American Rap
game. In terms of the UK Grime scene, we were aiming to create a mood with the video and
digipak that could be related to UK Grime artists such as Giggs, Krept and Konan and
Squeeks. We tried to achieve this by going for a dark tone in both the music video and the
digipak. As well as this, we wanted to ensure that we broke the dark colours with filters in
the video and font styles and colours that were vibrant and fresh to the eye. The UK Grime
scene attitude and tone was maintained by the fact that we made use of an album cover
that is similar to that found on Giggs, Walk In The Park. It is similar in the fact that it makes
use of the text overlaying the stars face and features a rather distinctive location, in this
case it being a children’s play area. From this we took inspiration and decided to go for the
docks/waterfront as it isn’t an everyday area and is great for us as it isn’t greatly lit, this
ensures that we can maintain the dark and eerie feel that most grime videos feature.
We related our video to the American Rap game by ensuring that our star took on a typical
American dress sense and stance throughout the video. This American stance was
maintained throughout the music video by making use of camera movements and angles
that are typically found in American Rap videos. These typical camera features are
movements such as slow pans and tilts and hints of pulled focus. The typical camera shots
that were put to use were; off centre shots, close ups and tracking shots.