Creative Critical Reflection

Final Product

Well, I'm proud to announce that I've finished my A Level Aice Media Studies project. I've thought about this day since the project was first introduced to me. I learn a lot about my capabilities as a student through these projects assessed by Cambridge and I'm excited to share my final products. Without further ado, here are my final products:

Here is the link to my music video.
Here is the link to my website.

Below are pictures of my digipak:

Wrapping it up

Almost done!!

Website

Hello. Julia here. I wanted to continue talking about my website. So, I've been looking at the websites for the bands I talked about earlier (Skegss, Fidlar, Made Violent, and Sticky Fingers) and they all are very easy and to the point. During my process of creating my website, I decided to include the following: links to social media and music apps, tour dates, and photos of the band. Since the band is still working on getting their name out there, I chose to not add merchandise onto the website. I chose to do this because the band is still trying to get noticed and spending money to create merchandise right now is not necessary. Like I said earlier, the doodles I made on the Let'sDraw application on the iPhone was very pixelated when i uploaded it onto the website, so I am no longer going to be adding that to the page. Made Violent's website was the biggest inspiration for the one I'm creating. It is easy to use and very to the point. Here is the link to their website. This is what their website looks like: 

When you click on the upper right tabs they open up to their social media and music pages. I really like how simple this website is, yet you can totally understand the band's vibe with the single image on the page. When you click on the "tour" link, this is what shows up: 

It's very simple like the rest of the website and I think it will be easy for the band to keep up with especially since they are still trying to get recognized.

As I continue to create my website, I have considered how my band is still starting up and that it doesn't make sense to add certain details to their website. At this point, the band needs a place where someone can find all the ways to access their music and get a feel of who they are. Like I said earlier, I want to post photos of the band. The band will have albums for each previous gig they have so the people who went can access the photos that were taken. I think this is a really cool idea. I know that many clubs do things like this. They have photographers taking pictures and upload them in an album from the night so people don't have to worry about taking their own pictures. Plus, they are better quality. Who doesn't love high quality pictures???

Last minute change of plans!!! omg!!!

Website

Digipak

Digipak Brainstorm

Hey. It's Julia here, again. I am so excited about my project and cannot wait to make my ideas into an actual product. Today, I began the brainstorming for my digipak. The other night I was on instagram and found an account that creates really cool doodles on Instagram. The account is called @lifestyledoodle. Here are some pics that inspired me for the jacket of my digipak:



I messaged the artist who made the account and she was very nice and helpful. She said that she uses a Wacom tablet linked to photoshop. She also told me she originally started doing these graphics on apps from the app store on an iPad. I started doing some research on which apps I should use to create these doodle graphics. I found an app I really like called Let's Draw and it's very simple to use. I have been playing around with it so I can get better at it. I think it's going to give my jacket the cool artsy vibe that the alternative genre usually gives off. I also want to use these graphics on my website as well so it all flows together. I think that this style will help tie my whole project together. In an earlier post, I threw out an idea about using stickers inside the booklet, but I decided to not do that anymore. I don't have any reason for why I don't want to add it anymore except for the fact that I just don't like it haha. Well, I'm logging off now, peace!

I just got home from recording the bands gig today for my music video !!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!! The band was really intense and it was a really enjoyable too. So, I thought that I would create a list of all the different shots and inserts and overlaying ideas I have because I don't think a story board would do its justice:

- Band eating pizza
-Band hanging out
-Band practicing
-Band walking around artsy area
-Graffiti
- LED Signs
-garage-like backgrounds
- artsy sceneries
-Train Track photoshoot
- Close up of band playing

I plan on taking all of these different shots and incorporating them into the music video fast paced to  create a hectic feel. Here is an example that I created that I plan on using in my music video. I was playing around with iMovie so I could get the hang of the editing techniques I'm going to be using. One thing I need to fix in this sample is the red LED light that says tattoo. It is too brought and overwhelming which fades out the other image completely. I also need to talk to the band about getting their song on Don't Waste My Time on a flash drive because I cannot download it from spotify or soundcloud (That's why there's no music in the sample).

So, on previous posts I discussed how I wanted to overlap the different videos I will be taking for the music video. I found some youtube videos that explain how to do the overlapping technique that I've been trying to figure out how to do. Here is a link to one of the tutorials that I watched. I was honesty really worried about the editing technique being difficult but it seemed not too bad. The video for Made Violent's Two Tone Hair (link to video) is the inspiration for my music video. I believe that it captures the mood and vibe that the song and band give off completely. Later today, I will be capturing the footage from Castafella's live performance in Hollywood, Florida. I am hoping that I will be able to capture the passion they give off during their gig tonight. The band also has a room in one of the member's house (Pedro) where they practice and I was thinking that if I get some fog machines and lights in there I could really manipulate the room and make it seem like a live performance too if need be. I also plan on taking some shots of different graffiti and art that I can incorporate into the areas where I plan on overlapping footage. Here are some places that I have in mind: Wynwood, downtown fort lauderdale, and my dad's warehouse.

Here is one of the backgrounds I am planning on using (from my dad's warehouse):

Problems... solved!!!!

Link to Soundcloud

Link to Spotify

As you know from my previous posting, I met with the band yesterday and discussed some of the routes we could take for the music video. I showed them the official video for Made Violent's Two Tone Hair and we all agreed on taking a similar route for my production. I strongly believe that in order for me to create the product I am envisioning, I need to incorporate shots of Castafellas performing live. They next time they have an act is March 31st, which leaves me a little over a week to edit my music video. With that being said, I am currently facing my first problem for my project: is that enough time to compose a well-made product? Since my time is already limited, I don't think that I should take this risk of shortening it even more. I think that my best option would be to use an alternative way to capture the same passionate vibes created during a typical live performance made by Castafellas. Also, I have to consider the fact that events change and get cancelled all the time (this is something very important to take into consideration). I definitely plan on going to this upcoming performance. If I truly love the footage, I can add some of it to the video.

I also met with my teacher this morning and we discussed the artistic route I wanted to take for the video. One thing she mentioned was looking over my notes from last year in AS level on possibly incorporating some promotional aspects into the video. Once I review my notes I will know which alternative route I will be taking for the video.

All About Alternative

Yesterday I started doing a lot more research on alternative bands. I took a lot of time going through several music videos on Youtube so I could understand and use the typical representation tropes for my band. One thing that really stood out to me was the laidback attitude that all the bands gave off (Made Violent, Sticky Fingers, and Skegss). Typically, I’ve noticed that the band members have long hair and dress in graphic tees.

While watching many music videos of the bands listed above, I noticed that each video was different from the others. This led me to the understanding that this music genre has a strong appreciation for being unique and quirky. For example, the music video for the song Freddy Crabs by Sticky Fingers is a video that creates a very odd story. The band is shown washed up on an island wearing different hats from soldier helmets to bucket hats (emphasizing their quirkiness) and they notice that there are other people on the island that are wearing gas masks with jumpsuits. At first, the band is shown as scared of the masked group but then Freddy Crabs, the villain of the island, approaches them and tries to kill them with his bare hands and flying crabs. Sticky Fingers then comes together to try and defeat Freddy Crabs by playing their music. This establishes the idea that Sticky Fingers looks at their music and band as something that saved them. After the band stopped Freddy Crabs from harming them, they are shown hanging out with mermaids, the gas-masked group, and Freddy Crabs drinking and having a good time. I believe that this part of the video is meant to illustrate the idea that music brings people from all different places and cultures together. Here is the link to the video.

Another music video I watched that stood out to me was one for Made Violent’s song Two Tone Hair. The music video was filled with many shots and faced editing. The video was very colorful and gave off a hectic feel. When watching the video, I was able to understand the passion the band has for playing music. I enjoyed this video. And how it captured the intensity of the moment that the band was having while playing. Something that Castafellas made clear to me was their love for performing and I really want to capture this passion and express it through the video I will be making. I believe that the techniques used in this music video will help me do so. Here is the link to the music video.

            In the music video for the song No Waves By Fidlar, I really liked how the beginning seemed like I was about to watch a 90’s television show. It started off with TV static following vintage filters and introduction credits with a retro font. I definitely want to do something similar to the No Waves introduction. Here is the link to the music video.

Something that I noticed that was really similar in many of the music videos the use of different lenses, colors, and filters. Also, many of the videos emphasize the strong relationship between the band members. Other than that, they all have a completely different art direction.

I am really excited about my findings and new understanding of this genre and how it has a strong presence of art, fun, relationships, and passion. I am meeting with Castafellas later today during their band practice. My goals for our meet up are the following: establish the direction I want my music video to take and begin filming the band at practice.

On Wednesday I will be meeting with Castafellas for the second time. I thought it would be a good idea to start recording them as they continue their journey as a band. I was debating on whether to do a video of them either in a dark garage-like area playing with the band while simultaneously telling a story at the same time. I was also considering doing a personal type of video. By that I mean showing the band on a more personal level by creating a video that is like a timeline. For example, showing them writing the music to practicing it to finally performing the music they make. On Wednesday I will tell the band my ideas and they will ultimately choose which one they like best. I think it is very important to get their opinion during the duration of this project because hopefully they will want to use the music video and the rest of the products I'm creating.

So the past week I have been thinking about the end result for all of the products I’ll be developing on my own. The band Castafellas that I’m working with has their own instagram and twitter page that they use to reach out to fans, post videos of themselves in action, and update everyone about where they will be performing. On all of their posts I get a edgy cool vibe from them. Most of their pictures are dark with cool colored filters or dark lighting. This is something I would like to capture during the making of my video. I’m going to start the planning for that and we will begin shooting Wednesday during the bands practice. Here are some pictures from their instagram:

Meeting the band

Today I met up with the band named Castafellas. Since I chose to create a promotional package for a music album, I thought it made the most sense to create a brand based off a real band in my community. They've been a band for about a year now. I asked them many questions about their band, the type of music they create, who their favorite artists/bands are, what their goals are for the band, who creates the music, etc. One thing that is really important for me to understand is the vibe the band gives off to their fans and how they are portrayed/ want to be portrayed. I definitely want them to be satisfied with the end result of my project so they can use the music video, digipak, and website that I created to their benefit after the project is over. I am currently in the process of looking over their favorite bands and artists so I can learn more about their genre (which they described as Alternative Punk/ Indy/ Garage). Their favorite artists and bands include the following:

Made Violent


Sticky Fingers


Skegss


 Jason Butler


Fidlar


I am really excited to work with this type of music genre because it is not one I am familiar with and it seems very intense and different. The Castafella members Pedro, Vincenzo, and Adrian are very nice and I'm really excited to work with them.