Making the CD Holder

The template we used:

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This template is from a PDF file of a Digipak given to us by our teachers in a way to help us design our own Digipak. We chose to recreate this design on Photoshop so that it made my own CD holder look realistic as the design would be perfect.

How I made the template:

We had to go on paint and add the photo in as a template. We then had to draw around the outline to create our own version so that we could remove the white background in Photoshop so that it was a hollow outline that showed the design behind it. This is to create the effect of a hollow area where the CD will be placed.

The final template:

Putting the template into Photoshop:

Final CD holder:

Our final CD holder with the CD in:

Detailed Gatefold Research

Creating the Poster

First Draft:

For our first draft we tried to create the gradient from our research on the Drake and Michael Jackson posters. We decided that it didn’t create the look we wanted as it clashed with the colours of our models clothes and made the image blend with the background which is unsuccessful as it should stand out.

Making Changes:

We chose to use the same image on our album as on our poster to ensure people recognized the album when they saw it as they would have been made to buy it after seeing this poster; therefore, this helps people know what to look for. We made the background white to make the black and white image stand out as it is the main image therefore it needs to be eye-catching. The posters from our research have very simple designs which make every feature stand out as it isn't overcrowded yet the gradient background would overpower everything and make it look untidy and too cramped.

We then started adding the text in a similar way to our research, the text box relates to Drakes album poster from our research. We chose this one as it would create a clear area for our text. We had our artists name as the first piece of text, as most posters only featured the artists name rather than the album title. We featured the title because the title relates to our tone and message of our music video and ancillary task therefore it is an important feature to include. The information was influenced by Michael Jackson’s poster as we list the awards our artist has had, which we made up as it makes the poster look professional and our artist look realistic. The other piece of text is from Drakes other poster which describes the album as 'highly anticipated' this is to promote the album and make it appear a success in order to look professional.

At first we thought we would use our gold colour scheme for the whole text but from our research we decided white worked really well with the text, therefore we decided to keep the title of the album gold and the pre-order information as they are seen as the most important information, and so need to stand out from the rest of the text. This shows the text has changed from gold to white. We featured the artists name in white so that it will stand out, the album title is gold as it separates the white text from the gold so that it doesn't clash or look like too much writing.

This shows how the bottom of the poster was designed, we featured the parental advisory logo as this was featured on our pamphlet, we used this as it is common in the R&B genre and shows that the content isn't suitable for some ages as it is a very strong message. This also relates to our target audience. We featured the Twitter and Facebook signs to relate to our young target audience as these sites are very popular with young artists like our own. We featured the names of the user on the bottom in white which was featured on some of our research. We also wrote a website as this was something that was on Ed Sheeran's poster. We featured an image of our album cover to show the audience that the image used on the poster is the same as the image on the front cover so that they can relate it to each one so they know what to look for in the shops. We featured the iTunes logo as this is common in our target audience as most people buy albums from their iTunes accounts rather than shops. This highlights how we refined our design for our target audience and genre of music.

We then added the red banner with the date using a white font ad this was on our Drake poster research. This ensures we followed the same colour scheme as our research: black, white, red and a little bit of gold. The date banner is successful as it is the only piece of red on the poster apart from the wine bottle which can faintly be seen, therefore it stands out which is important as it is promoting the date of the album release. We chose to release the album on a Friday as this is a popular day for albums to be released, therefore it looks realistic and professional.

Our final poster:

Creating the CD

Our main influence from our research:

Images Cally took for the CD:

Creating and designing the CD:

The CD was created in Adobe Illustrator. We had to create a template of a circle and then add the text we wanted. We chose to use the same font as the rest of our Ancillary task so that there was a constant variable to relate each section.  The font is Birch STD and we then expanded the space width so that the letters spread out to the same space from each corner like n the front of the CD case.

How we edited it in Photoshop:

We cropped the image to a smaller size so that the excess image could be easily removed. 

We then used the Quick Selection Tool to highlight the areas which needed to be removed.

This has had the area around it removed so that when it is saved it is just the CD area.

Our Final First Draft:

We decided to change the design slightly by making the fire black and white this was so that it looked like smoke as the image next to this at the back of the pamphlet will be a candle therefore the smoke will relate to the rest of the CD which is something we decided to do from the research as this was a convention many digipaks used as it tied the whole album together.  Also other features need to be added to the CD including the name of executive producer and the logos of the production companies.

We changed this image to the one on the right by editing it in Photoshop. It was very simple as the quality allowed me to just change it to black and white without ruining the clarity. We then placed the image on the CD to use the best part of the image.

This design is much better than the coloured flames as it looks like smoke which relates to our video, the design is softer and makes the writing stand out more. It also suits the black background more as it isn't too overpowering.

Adding the final features:

We created two designs and then chose the best one when comparing them. We used black font for the record label information and white to see which one worked best. Because of the white text around the CD the white worked best, it also stood out more which made it look professional as a bad feature such as hard to read text ruins the quality and makes it look unsuccessful.

The Logos we used:

These are the logos we used as we had to choose between the logo of our record companies as our research only had two logo's and one was the compact digital audio disk logo therefore we had to choose the image from the main record label. we feel these made the Cd look more professional as it is a normal convention for most Cd's therefore it makes ours look realistic. 

The text we used:

Around the rim of the CD:

Executive Producers: Dr Dre & Anthony “TOPDAWG” Tiffith Co-Executive Producer: Dawaun Parker, DJ Khaalil, DJ Dahl, Hit-Boy, Jack Splash, Just Blaze, Like, Pharell Williams, Bahki, Scoop DeVille, Skhye Hutch, Sounwave, T-Minus, Tabu, Terrace Martin, Tha Bizness, THC.
Creative Direction: Poppy Scott “Pops” Cally Skinner, Marie Ahagbuje, Rebecca Martin “Becks”

This is the text we used on our other Ancillary tasks as it is the producers names which is a common feature on many of the albums and pamphlets.

©2013 Aftermath/Interscope Records, A division of UMG Recordings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Unauthorised copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting, prohibited. Made in the EU.

LC064040603527439430

This is the text we used on the bottom of the CD below the logos as it is naming the record labels used which relates to the logo above it.

Final CD:

Filming the Bottle and the Swimming Pool

When we were at Connor’s house, we thought we needed to make new footage. We noticed that Connor had a swimming pool in his garden and realised that it linked nicely with the song as it’s called ‘Swimming Pools’. We chose to film a beer bottle floating in the pool to link the song and the point of the video, alcoholism. It also shows the audience that his drinking is uncontrollable and leaves drinking bottles all over the place. The visual feature of the bottle falling into the pool and floating is successful as it appears calm yet the message it represents is fitting with the distressed, depressed tone of the video.

This shot shows the bottle being thrown in the pool, this was to try and capture the splash it makes as we use a similar effect with the water in the bath scenes when our models quickly come up from underwater and grab the side of the bath splashing the water visually. This also shows the lack of care Connor has for his alcohol problem and he’s throwing away his used bottles everywhere. We decided to try and capture the bottle creating a visual physical effect on the water as it represents the physical effect the bottle has had on Connor. 

This footage shows the bottle floating on the surface side on, this shows the label to show that it is an alcohol bottle. The bottle starts bobbing up and down and then starts to sink as it fills with water this gives the shot a different angle without us physically moving it ourselves, this makes it seem accidental and not forced at all which suits our music video better than us throwing the bottle into the water. 

This footage is of a bottle purposely being pushed into the pool by rolling off the side. If we cut the video at the right time, it makes it look like the bottle rolled into the pool accidently. We found that this is the best footage we got of the bottle rolling in the pool and would use it in our video.

Re-filming the 'Headshot' Scene

One of the scenes we knew we had to change was the shot of Connor’s face when the lyrics say ‘Headshot’. Due to the fact that we have to repeat this footage throughout the song as it is in the chorus, this footage had to be perfected. The reason for why we had to re-film this footage is because in the original footage, Connor seemed to look like he was smiling which ruined to mood of the video. When we re-filmed this scene, Cally had to hold a thick cover over the door frame to control the lighting while I filmed him. We also covered up the windows to make it extra dark.

We had Connor sitting on the floor against a white wall again, but this time he was wearing a black shirt which we thought showed up better against the white background. It also shows that it is another day as he is wearing a white shirt in the scene it will go after in the music video. Black also represents depression and darkness which relates to our tone and mood perfectly.

In this footage of Connor, he is looking left and right and down at his hands rather than at the camera. This is to show the audience he is hiding his feelings which are one of the reasons for his drinking. He has isolated himself due to what has happened to Lily. We have the camera positioned head on while Connor is sat at a slight angle; this is so that it stands out when changing from each shot as it is placed in a scene which involves Connor being head on.

Cally tried to film Connor using a panning shot to create a variety of shots. However, the location wasn’t successful as there was gym equipment filling the room which ruined the shot as they were sometimes visible. The gym equipment being in the way also made it difficult for Cally to go round him successfully. There was also a mirror on the wall which meant i was shown filming him in the reflection which made the footage look unprofessional.

We tried finding another location to do this shot; however, no room was dark or bare enough. We couldn’t use our previous empty room as we previously used Cally’s spare room and she had moved house therefore there was nowhere for this shot to be completed so we improvised and kept the camera still.  

Filming Connor at the Bar

This is one of the last filming sessions we did. This setting was successful as it shows his repetitive drinking as it is clear he has a bar in his home. The black bar with the red chairs works really well with our tone and message as it relates to his clothes and the connotations of these colours are danger and death which links to our music video.

This footage starts with Connors face, we then see him drink, once he has put the bottle down it starts to zoom in on the label of the bottle, this is to highlight his problem as the lighting shows it is clearly the middle of the day yet he is still drinking. We made sure we kept his hands in the shot as he had them in fits and starts to tap them on the bar which makes it clear something is on his mind which is why he is drinking. It’s as if he knows what he is doing isn’t good for him, but he still does it anyway. The setting is successful as there is bottles of wine next to his head and it is visibly clear that he is sitting at a bar in his own home which shows how drinking is a regular occurrence. We found if quite difficult filming this shot as there was a mirror behind him and, therefore, we were able to see a reflection of what was happening behind us which we had to get out of the shot. We had to set up a chair for the camera to sit on and then we relied on the zoom, this was so that we didn't show up in the mirror. This ruined our shot a bit as we wanted to film him drinking and then move to the clock on the wall next to him, however, we changed our shot as we were unable to film the clock due to the mirror being in the way.

The focus of this shot is more on the bottle than Connor; however, we showed it was Connor at the beginning of the shot to show the audience it was him. I then zoomed in on the bottle while Connor made a fist in the corner of the shot showing his aggravation and desperation for the thought to leave him. This is a successful shot as we see that the main focus is the alcohol, which is the main feature in the video, alcoholism.

This footage is successful as Connor is looking at the bottle in his hands; he then makes a fist and puts his fist on the bar which could either mean he is disappointed and angry with himself for drinking, or feeling angry about what has happened with Lily which is drawing him to the drink. This makes the audience think that Connor is guilty about something. We start to zoom in on the shot and then we zoom out this is visually unsuccessful as it looks very unprofessional and makes the video lack quality. Connor then looks at the bottle with his hands in fists and then looks at the clock to show how it is a viscous cycle as he drinks throughout the whole day. Him clenching his fist shows his frustration with what he is doing and what has happened.

In this shot Connor looks at the bottle and then the clock, we then zoom in on the bottle and his hands as he starts to move his fingers along the bottle as if he is thinking about what he is doing. This shot is successful as it shows how Connor drinks while he thinks which is the main reason he is an alcoholic as he is drinking to escape his thoughts.

In this shot Connor looks at the bottle before drinking. He then closes his eyes as if trying to escape his thoughts. He then puts the bottle down and shakes his head as if it hasn't worked in taking away his memory and the thoughts that are clearly bothering him that is originally driving him to drinking. He then looks at the clock as if to say how much longer will he have to drink before he forgets his problems. This tells the audience that his drinking is clearly repetitive and destructive all throughout the day. The shot ends on the bottle and Connor's hands as he makes a fist and puts his hands together as if thinking or praying this shows how desperate he is for the drink to take away his problems and his frustration of what he is doing to himself and the people that care about him.