This document discusses the author's creation of ancillary texts like a digipak and promotional poster to accompany a music video. The author took photos during filming to use on the digipak and poster to represent the story and make the character recognizable. The same image is used in the closing scene of the video and on the digipak cover to create a connection. Both the digipak and poster use a simple, basic design inspired by other alternative rock artists. They feature the same main image and font to clearly connect the products. Placement of the poster at a bus stop and in music magazines could effectively promote the band. Photoshop was used to see how the digital and physical copies of the

1. How effective is the combination of your
main product and ancillary texts?
Liam Biglin

2. In order to create my ancillary texts and enable a definite link
between them and the music video, I took a number photos of my
main character whilst the filming progressed. From doing this I
hoped to allow the digipak and promo poster to represent the story I
had created from my own interpretation of the lyrics. As well as
this, any viewers of the video online would also notice the front cover
of the digipak in stores as the character is someone they recognise.
Below are some of the images taken on the first day of filming…

3. In fact, the link between the digipak and video is so close that I actually used the same
image within the video in the closing sequence. It is shown as almost a subliminal
message to the viewers to look out for the image as it quickly flashes on and off the
screen. The below image is the one I decided to use for the digipak cover, I felt it was an
effective image to use as it created the story within itself. The hopeless look on the
characters face as he looks out into the distance, you can almost feel his emotions. It
creates a real connection between the consumer and the characters story as they
sympathise with him. The fact he's sat on the cliff again hints at what kind of music video
the band have created as well as allowing those viewers who haven't yet seen the video
to draw assumptions and therefore build anticipation for the real thing. Another factor I
like about the picture I chose is the small beam of light conveniently created by a street
light shining from the top left corner. This light signifies a small glimmer of hope for the
character, maybe signifying that his girlfriend may take him back. However, on the over
hand it could also be seen as another hint as to what will happen and instead reflect his
a light guiding him to heaven after he eventually jumps from the cliff in the final scene.
Image used on Digipak cover
Image
within
music
video

4. The simplistic approach of the album cover is something I
have again reflected onto my promotion poster. I used
my research of real life products to see that digipaks and
promotional posters within alternative rock are mostly
basic and it's something I wanted to create within my
own product. Some examples of the basic alternative
rock album covers and promotions posters can be seen
below…
Basic Promotional Posters
Basic album covers

5. An obvious comparison between the digipak and the
promotion poster is the same main image. I took
inspiration from artists such as You Me At Six who simply
used their digipak cover to promote their album rather
than opting for an alternative picture like so many artists
do. I feel using this method is much more effective as it
creates a clear recognition of the main image from view
the poster so that you can easily find the product in
store.
You Me at Six
products
My Products

6. With this image being on the promo poster too it is something
that ties down all 3 products (music video, digipak and
promotion poster) because, as mentioned earlier, it also
features within the music video too. I therefore feel all the
products together create a solid sales campaign as they are
all noticeably working together for the same cause. Another
feature that connects the promotion poster and the digipak is
the fact the same font is used. I have opted for the fairly
simple 'Ethon' taken from Dafont.com and made it white
against the dark backgrounds of both.

7. Despite having to create a new artist, it was my intention to
reflect element of the original artist within my work. I decided
to do this in 2 key ways. Firstly, on the digipak I chose to stick
with the regular theme of Bastille of crossing the band name
and the album title in a crossword effect. This is almost Bastille's
trademark album cover and fits perfectly with the
conventionally simple alternative rock album covers. As well
as this, I decided to keep another of Bastille's trademarks by
using a triangle to symbolise the A within the band name. I
have therefore used a triangle whenever the Castiel is
written, even when writing their website on the bottom of the
promotion poster. This is therefore another factor which links
the promotion poster with the digipak.

8. In order to judge the effectiveness of my products
within real life situations I have used Photoshop to edit
my products upon various advertisement sources.
Starting with my promotional poster
Firstly, a bus stop, I feel this is a very effective sales
technique as customers find themselves searching
for something to help pass the time during their
wait. They’ll read all sorts so what better than so this
may catch their eye as they wait.
Another effective poster placement would be within
music magazines selling similar types of music. In my
case, Kerrang. With the help of the promotion poster it
way draw the attention of customers who already like
alternative rock but haven’t yet come across the
particular band. Alternatively it may simply act as a
reminder to existing fans that a new Castiel album is set
for release.

9. As well as this I also placed my digipak upon real life
selling industries in order to see how it competes with
existing products.
Firstly I edited my digipak onto a HMV shelf as
though it was for sale in store. I felt this was really
effective as it allowed me to get a feeling for how
the hard copy of my product would look on the
shelves within a real life situation. I could
therefore judge it’s effectiveness in comparison to
other albums being sold.
However, given the current rise of the digital age, many
people instead opt to buy their albums digitally using online
music stores such as iTunes. Therefore I also decided to edit
my album cover onto the iTunes homepage amongst the new
music. This then enabled me to view how the digital edition
would sell online and it’s effectiveness against other new
albums.