Storyboard

STORYBOARD

It shows the different scenes we will have and the different locations we will be working in. It also shows different style of shots we will use. The story board is a basic plan for our narrative but it is highly likely it may change due to weather or other problem that me arise. 

Music Video Analyses

 I have decided to analyse Smokahontas by Attack Attack! I have chosen them as they are a Meltalcore band, which is one of the many sub-genres of rock.This band also incorporates a bit of Electronic Dance which challenges conventions making it interesting to analyse.

An enigma is created at the beginning of the video the audience doesn't know why the man is being wrapped in a carpet.  The video starts in a forest, Its day light and there is a dead man laying on a carpet on the floor. He is dressed in a waist coat and tie. Ambient sounds are only heard, the bass player from Attack Attack! is then shown kneeling down, he wearing Black trouser, tie and braces which contrast with his clean white shirt.White is stereotypically linked with clean good behavior this goes against what hes about to do in the long shot. He rolls up his sleeves which shows hes ready to work to dispose of a dead body the way he has his braces and shirt reminds me of Reservoir Dogs. He then begins to roll the man in the carpet. We cut to a medium close up of him taping each end of the carpet containing the man with duck tape, While doing so he smokes casually.

The shot changes from him beginning to drag the man along the floor, once again the shot changes to a long shot, during this we watch him pull the man through the forest. He shows relaxed body behavior which is strange considering what hes doing. During this shot we can hear a crow squawk this stereotypical links to bad omen, the bad omen is full filled as he opens the boot of the car on a low angle showing his dominance. he then places the man in the boot of a car  removing valuables such as a watch during this medium close we are able to see his stretched ear lobe which is a signification of the rock genre as is his style of hair with the fringe covering one eye. He then pours petrol out of a bloody red coloured can over the car. We fade out in to the next shot as he is casually lighting up a cigarette which suggest hes smoking in success, Electronic Dance music is gradually starting to be heard, this is unusual and challenges conventions it almost a mockery of rock music. The music begins to build up keeping in beat as it swaps to Metalcore drumming. The Car explodes and it suddenly becomes dark we are introduced to the band performance.

The video is built up from half narrative it seems to portray a mafia life style such as the godfather, it show stereotypical mafia trates such as hitmen, interrogation and torture. The narrative is fast paced to show the on going life style the mafia lead, these shot are shown with a faded black effect on the edges of the shots. With in the narrative black and white photos are used in the interrogation to show the extinguished life, the use of colours link well with the mafia style . The other half of the video is Performance based which are built up of full shots of the band, close up of the members on their solo's, giving them credit for the input in the song. Narrative and performance are a stereotypical feature of rock video as well as some of Andrew Goodwin's theories. Smokahontas all so has other theories of Goodwin's in there music video such as Thought beat and Relation Of Visual To A Song, examples of though beats are found between 1:01 and 1:16 there shown through the band member jumping up and down to the beat and 'Moshing' a rock term meaning extreme head banding. This is the members enjoying the music and counting the beats so they can recognise which part to play, it is also a form of connecting with the crowd they're playing to, so they can join in and share the experience. The shots swap to the beat of the drums, the bass player also rocks out with his bass guitar thrashing it up and down.

Our next shot is a group of men crowded at a table in a dark room, the lyrics 'we're alone in a crowded room' are sang in a heavy metal form ( better known as "screamo" or distorted singing). Our first example of  relation of a visual to a song and it is shown between 1:16 to 1:21. The Electronic Dance beat returns as we enter the chorus and one of the guitarists are singing with a much smoother voice, the chorus is about heart break and the one he was made to love. The way he is singing this section of the song connects well as it adds melody to contrast that of the metal singer. You can hear the main singer doing backup singing which is unusual as the soft voice is in control as some one with a stronger voice would normally take control. Once the main singer is in control again all Electronicore sounds are lost. The video is constantly cross cutting from performance to narrative this could be to build the suspense of what could happen next in the narrative.

The performance is in the location of where the car exploded, with the band performing at the front of the composition, they are all dressed in stereotypical rock clothing such as black skinny jeans, black printed t-shirts and skater shoes such as Vans or DC's. Three out of the five member have also got the stereotypical hair, long, dark, straight and covering one eye. The drummer however has dark hair, gelled up, this is a particularly well recognized style for bands such as Sum41 and Greenday whom are Punk/rock bands. The last member has blonde dreadlocks that fall to his shoulder, this is a unusual style for a Metalcore band member, this song was released in January 11th, 2011 since then dreadlocks has increased in the rock world and more and more people are adding to the style. There is also noticeable tattoo's on the members bodys and body mod these are well recognised features of the rock genre, it shows individuality.

DigiPak

DigiPak

A DAY TO REMEMBER

‘What separates me from you’

The background is a cartoon version of a busy city zebra crossing, mostly light natural colours are used and few dulled down primary colours dotted here and there. In the center of the foreground is a human sized hourglass; half full of sand and a man wearing a suit trying to escape is placed inside. This suggests that he is trying to escape time. The hourglass is much dark than the rest of the front cover, this could suggest he is in a bad place. This style is not what you would expect an American rock band album cover to look like; it challenges the stereotypical expectations. 

The layout works well, as the main feature is centered and gives a clear message ‘time is running out’ the people in the back ground seem to represent ‘life goes on anyway’ which contrasts the man in the hour glass when his time is stopping while every one else’s is continuing. The back of the cover is much darker, and shows that time has ran out as the sand is above the mans neck.

When you open the Digi-pack its shows, marriage, death and a hospital. I think this is three moments in life, which members of the bands have came across and not been able to control.

When the Digi-pack is fully opened there is a clock smashed showing times ran out and the hourglass scatted across the ground, the Cd is cleverly centered and design as a Manhole, which could be seen as a graphic match to the CD. The inside could also show moments in another persons life a member whiteness, the wedding could have been the love of his life but he had to watch them marry some one else, maybe the funeral was a loved one, and the hospital could possibly be another loved one fighting for there life and they cant do anything to help. Maybe that’s what the hourglass symbolizes, that there is a challenge between what they want and what they can get.

 This is a well thought out cover not just a posed photo of the band, which is most popular in the shops today. The cover and text is a very similar colour palette, the text is easy to read, Black and bold, the album name is in a smaller front. They have kept the foreground simple with no colour; this is different to what is found in the background. I think the lack of colour makes the texts easy to read.

The band does not display any significant exclusives, although it does contain all the copyright information, a bar code and information about people involved such as producers and directors.