Website Design

This is the Coldplay website home page which is dark but has contrasting colours with black background and bright pink and blue text. The design is simple and easy as there is a clear menu bar on the top of the page coloured in blue with animations. Also the design of the page is in three coloums with news, shop, latest music video and links to soical networking sites for the latest information.


Snow Patrol is a simular band to Coldplay and The Castros who we have chosen. The website is a contrast to the Coldplay website as the page uses white and red as the main colours. The big picture of the Eagle in just to the left of the page is to help them promote their new Album. This Contrasting design can be seen by the content of the page. This page doesn't have massive amounts of information but has a very basic design with only one coloum with
all the information which is long,
also has a top menu bar like most
other websites.

Analysis of music video

Website

 

Layout and Design

The layout and design is an easy format with a simple layout. In the middle there is the menu bar with clear links to certain things throughout the site. One of the better points I think is the icons at the top of the page which link into different social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to find forums and discussions about the band. The design also features different pictures of the band at different events in the center so you can see all the band members and the bands logo. Advertised is their lasted music video and a link to iTunes for purchase.

The Technical codes used

There is a good slide show type of thing at the top of the page with different pictures of the band and the bands name and logo show who the band is and what the iconic logo looks like. There is also a audio player featured with a link to a new window with the band's music for people going in and out of the site to see.

Analyse websites

Layout and Design

• Usability- Easy website to use with clear links and clear features like the music player and video. 
• Grid System- The access to over parts of the website is easy with all the main features going down under titles. The rest of the information is on the menu system on the top of the page.
• Centre of page- This follows on the website is almost the same with the main information on the left hand side and some links placed on the right. Also the menu is almost central/top this helps for easy access.
• Background and font colour- the background colour could be classed as dark but they do not actually have a background colour as the N-Dubz website has an animation in the background. The font colour on the menu bar is orange with black background which helps the audience see the words clearer as they use opposite colours.
• Images- The images in the website are shown with the band in all their pictures, with the inclusion of the band in the top left hand corner helps show the group and the name so the audience know who the name and the members of the band.

Technical codes

On the website there are many pictures of the band in photoshots or at gigs/ concerts. Videos and a music player is included for the entertainment of the viewer, The vidoes include insides to the group and information of up coming events for fans also vidoes at concerts are shown to get a fill for the gorups effect to the wider audience.

Terms of content

The content of the website is many for entertainment purposes as the website itself is colour and easy to use with a large music player on the top of the page to play music from the group the music player has large and simple buttons as symbols in a bubble shape. The adverts on the page are not related to the band themselves but promote large companies.

Genre

Fitting in with the genre the website shows the text of the group in a urban graffeti style which fits in with the hip-hop theme of the music.

Traget Audience

This website fits in with the target audience as the website appears to be in the style of the modern age with urban/ street culture as the theme of the website. The Taget audience would most probably be teenagers living in rough areas needing a way to get through their problems.

Codes and Conventions of Websites

Layout and Desgin

Usability- Easy to use site with clear areas for naviation around the website.
Grid System- Separate sections of a website to present information in small, easy to access segments.
Centre of Page- Used for main content with navigation tools on the left and/or across the top of the page and links to more infromation on the right.
Background and Font colour- Used to separate different types of information.
Images- Used to illustrate as much as possible to add visual interest.

Technical Codes Used

Certain technical codes are now a common place on websites. Most websites have moving images or audio content and something for the audience to do on the website for interest or interation. This content are provided depentent on what the website is like a music website would have downloadable music/ videos or downloadable content.

Content

Websites with factual infromation may look different compared to a site for entertainment. There are different titles on different sites as they would be focus on only one type of information.

Genre

Websites are based on existing genres (e.g. Broadsheets or Tabliod Newspapers) the web desgin uses recognisable codes and conventions to ensure that the audience recognise the genre.

Target Audience

Most audiences may find a certain layout and design appealing conpared to others. A key issue with websites is the way they attempt to encourage audience activity and interactivity to attract audiences in and persuade them to return or pass on information impaortant to the site.

Analyse music video

This is Ed Sheeran You need me, i don't need you. This music video is different compared to Ed Sheeran music video The A Team as this has a story line to it which is a young homeless girl in London getting into drugs and prostitution.
This video doesn't follow the codes and conventions of pop music videos as the video is all shot in black and white instead of it being colourful and the codes and conventions suggest for music videos. Throughout the whole video it every now and than picks up items from the lyrics and features them on the video. This represents things that have have happened in the artist  life. The main actor in the video uses synlanguage to tell the story lyric by lyric. As the codes and conventions suggest there are usually dance routines which are shown in this between some of the signs from the actor. The editing in the video are fast straight cuts to different images this goes with the speed of the song this can also be said about the flashing lights in the background.
This song appeals to teenagers as they might have got into a simular situation possible from a break up from a relationship. But it also suggest the way the artist Ed Sheeran became famous and the lyrics suggest that he wasn't the smartest person and talks about how he does not have lots of money and this could suggest the reason why he might not need the person as he makes lots of money now. He also talks about how everyone is a unique.
The fashion suggested by the actor could tell the audience that the actor is from possible a working class family as the actor is wear a baseball style coat and jeans. The video has not got a setting as it is set inside a studio which has been blanked out.

research into simular products

This is Linkin Park which with following the conventions of rock videos the video is filmed using dark colours which make the video seem argressive and angry. Which also shows in the lyrics and the way they say it. This fits in with the speed on the music which is fast and loud. Also following the codes and conventions is the fact that the band is shown performing almost like a promotion to what sorts of performances they perform within concerts.

The mood of the music video is set as soon as the music starts as it shows the lead singer in a hood with his eyes covered in a medium shot which helps see the head and the chest which shows a black hoodie and a angry face. Also shows a hand and pieces of broken metal from nowhere appear from a mist which like the first shot shows the mood of the video. One of the editing peices in the middle of the video shows the camera in a shack which goes with the music in the video.

Digipack

I our group we will be making a 3 side digipack for our choose group. The digipack usually has information on the group, sometimes lyrics and/or pictures of the band. A digipack helps give information for the costumer which is very good for a group who is new which gives insite.

Typical conventions of music videos

Camera Shots: Long shots, close ups and extreme close ups are constantly used. Close ups are usually used in music videos as it puts emphasis on the artist or bands face for promotional reasons and their lips to show the lip-syncing.
Camera Movement: Pans, dolly track shots, crane shots and tilts are used to follow the movements of the singer/band or dancers.
Editing: Jump Cuts are the most commonly used as its purpose is to jump from scene of the location to the artist to the instruments and vice-versa. Reaction shots are used with music videos with narrative as it expresses relationships between characters.
Mise-en-scene: Is associated to the inter-textual link of the music video, therefore it depends on the representation.

1. Lighting: Extreme Artificial lighting is the most common type of lighting used in music videos as it helps to enhance the look of the artist or band through making them seem 'ageless', used mostly in pop music videos. Light switches help to indicate a shift from chorus to verse. Lighting also enhances the atmosphere as it can be used to give a bright and upbeat feel particularly in a dance music video or a dark and eerie feel which is used mostly in rock videos.
2. Props: Props are essential in music videos.
3. Costume: Reflect the genre of the music and style of the artist; therefore costumes are essential because they compliment the artist.
4. Colour: Colour reoresents the mood of the song for example; bright colours are usaully used in 'feel good' pop songs.
5. Sound: Usually the sound is the music and vocals; however some music videos are similar to short films with actors, therefore in these clips there are various sounds which can be heard such as diagetic and non-diagetic sounds.

Audience Feedback from inital ideas

In class we presented presentation of initial ideas of which the class did not say much about our ideas. Our first idea included two bands which are new and local bands which not many people know about. This was seen as a good idea as the music are original and with connections with the bands mean it would be easier to get permission to use their music.

Codes and Conventions from genre

Hip-hop Videos
Normally the artist appears on the music video and is set in some sort of club or party. Also in this party there would be models and dances half naked exposing their body's with no storyline. The actors/dancers usually wear jewellery with lose clothes which hag down. Another thing seen in most hip-hop videos are alcohol and sports cars. The hip-hop video shows feature of being rich like mansions and branded clothes. Examples include 50 cent and Notorious B.I.G.

Rock Music Videos
Usually dark/deep colours with the band performing on stage with no narrative. The video could be seen as erie or weird with uneasy camera movement which is done with hand held cameras. They do not usually use special effects. Examples include Rolling Stones and Limp Bizkit.

Pop Videos
Videos show innocence with close up with the artist in a colourful, fun and light hearted atmostphere. The videos appeals to younger people with the fact that they include teenage problems like a crush. Video shows the artist in dance routines with a good mood and location like a beach. The video usually has narrative. Examples injclude Britney Spears and Lady Gaga.

Indie/Rock Videos
These videos show the artist or band throughout the video which usually has a calm setting but chnages when the beat kicks in. Sometimes they have narrative and includes close ups of the artist ands chararcters in the video showing the band in performance. Examples include Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon and Kasabian.

Dance Videos
Always shows a dance routine with narrative sometimes which is set usually in clubs or at parties which the music is upbeat and a fun video. Also women dancers feature halft naked with everybody wearing simular clothes and bright colours. Examples include Eric Pryds, Basshunter and Faithless.

R'n'B Videos
These usually have a narrative which the artist is always shown usually in a dance routine with close ups of the artist. These are usually set in calm locations such as houses or beaches which is usually a party atmostphere with alcohol included and lots of use of special effects. Examples include Destiny's Child and Rihanna.

Brief

Throughout the year my our group will be making a music video with website and poster.

Introduction

This is my second year doing media studies in which my group, me Luis Mendes and Zygimantas Pukas, will be making a music video throught the year.