Magazine Advert

Album Cover

Story Board

Ideas for Album Cover

Possible Images for Album Cover/ Advert

These are images from the final scene of the music video, the black and white effect on the images represents the idea of good vs evil within the characters life; with the majority being in black reflecting the idea of him being the antagonist. Whilst for the back of the album cover an image of the alleyway empty would be used to keep with the theme of the image. If I use one of these images as the main feature of the album cover it may also be the main image for the magazine advert or as a secondary image.

Magazine Advert Ideas

Magazine adverts often use a similar theme to the album covers, with many using similar images or the same image for both magazine and advert. The theme often runs into the artwork shown in the advertising in magazines and other media. This means that I would feature the album cover on the magazine advert, as either the main image or as a secondary image. This has been done in similar adverts like “Plan B’s”, “The Foals” and “Gorilaz” adverts, where the album cover has been used as an advert for the album.

For the magazine advert my idea is to use the image from the album cover as either the main image or as a picture on it, which is important because it shows how the theme is consistent and that the audience will know that it is for this product. However, if an image from the video is used on the album cover for the band, an image from the same scene of the music video could be used, which would show a consistent theme on both the album cover, and magazine advert.

There is normally simplistic text used on the adverts, which often provide secondary information to the audience about the band, with this text normally being about tour dates or the albums reviews. The font for the adverts is also normally simplistic, with bold white font being mainly used in adverts I have researched. The font I will use will be used on both the album cover and the magazine advert to show the theme is running between the two visual products. It is important for this text to be simplistic like on the previous covers and adverts for the band.

Album Cover Initial Ideas

There are several conventions of album covers that I have researched; rock band Rage Against the Machine used a simplistic graffiti image, Fat Boy Slim’s album used comedy which relates to his act and music, and The Clash used an image from one of there tours. The Clash’s album cover for “London Calling” has become and iconic image, the image shows guitarist Paul Simonon smashing his guitar against the stage. The album cover also has vast similarities with Elvis Pressely’s first album because the text font is identical and the image on Elvis’s album being him playing live.

Previous album covers by the Kings Of Leon have been focussed on being of one object or setting, whilst they have also used images of themselves. The album because of the times uses a split image idea, with four images being used on the cover, which I think is one of the bands most effective covers. The 2007 album “because of the times” uses an image of a light bulb smashing, if I followed this then I would use an image of an everyday object that would best reflect the mood of the video. Or I would use an image of an object from the video. Whilst their recent album cover shows a paradise island at sunset which links to the title of the album “Come Around Sun Down”. 

An idea that I have had for the album cover would be to use an image from the video for the song; this could either be an action shot from the video or an image of the main character for the album cover. For an action shot from the video I could use an image from the end of the video of the two characters, whilst for a shot of the main character I could use the image from the end of the video when the character is looking down the camera. Whilst for the back of the album cover would show back down the alleyway from which the main character has run from.

Another idea I have had for the music video is to use an image of an everyday object, which would be in keeping with several of the bands previous album covers. This object could be either a broken beer bottle, smashed photo frame or withering flowers, which would show the dark aspects of the song and would be relevant to the music video. The back of the album cover is stereotypically in keeping with the theme shown on the front of the album; however there is the track listings placed down the side of the back cover. There is also normally a barcode, and logos for the band, and their record labels.

Locations, Props, Costumes

Locations

The music video will be shot in several locations, with the most important location being where the final scenes will be shot. With it being important that it is dark, with limited lighting and also being a quite dirty street or alleyway. This is because the darkness will represent how the main character has become the antagonist in the narrative and how evil has become more powerful than good in the film. I believe that the best location for this is Wellington Street because if the film was shot at night the lighting would be limited and make the representation clear, or if the film was edited in black and white would be able to make the effect more effective. Most of the indoor scenes will be shot at my house, with the scenes of the main character sat in the living room being shot with dim lighting to show how his character is darker within the narrative, whilst one of the actor’s houses will be used as the second indoor location for the film. The crash scene will be filmed on a quiet road, because it would be safest to film whilst no cars or other dangers are about.

Props

            The main prop used in the music video will be the picture frame; this is because it will signify why the main character is following the secondary character and seemingly appears to be plotting revenge. The picture will show the strong relationship which the man had with the woman before the accident. With it also representing how he is some what unwilling to let go of what he had. Another prop which will be needed is alcoholic drink, which will be used  by the main character in order to show how his lifestyle has deteriorated.

Costumes

            It is important for the main character to be wearing dark, or colourless clothing as it is a representation of evil. Which will show how the main character has a dark mentality in the video and how his life has become heavily based around getting revenge on the secondary character. Whilst the secondary character should wear brighter colour clothing to show how he is getting over the accident and how his life has seemingly continued. It would also be appropriate for the female character to be wearing a white coat, in order to represent how is she is pure, and innocent in the situation.