Final Version

 Final video: 

https://vimeo.com/1037031063 

Final 30-sec footage:  

https://vimeo.com/1037271674 

 

Final website: 

HOME | Thecrows (18-etay.wixsite.com) 

(to view normally, zoom the browser out to 80% on a laptop)

HOME PAGE:

MUSIC PAGE:

TOUR PAGE:

STORE PAGE:

ABOUT US PAGE:

Statement of Intent - Candidate 1161

 How do you intend to use the four areas of the media theoretical framework to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of your chosen brief? (approx. 400 words). 

 

Product 1: 

For my music video, I intend to create a video to the song “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds. I plan to provide escapism for a middle-market audience of 16 to 25-year-olds who like to be entertained.16 to 25-year-olds are classified as Generation Z, and this generation has driven the resurgence of older ‘retro’ decades (like Y2K fashion and the popularity of Stranger Things), and so this demographic would appreciate an 80s dedicated music video despite not being born in this decade. I plan to have a music video that splits between performance shots of the band and an entertaining narrative that references 80s film and pop culture, especially the popular film ‘The Breakfast Club’, which the song for the video is from. Through my research, I have discovered that a middle-market audience are those can afford to have a higher media literacy and so would therefore gain more gratification from the pop culture references I plan to utilise in my video. I plan to create a star persona (Richard Dyer) for each band member, creating an overall brand identity for the band. 

 

Product 2: 

I intend to create a website with clear synergy and coherent branding in order to curate an effective product to accompany my music video. 16 to 25-year-olds are categorised as ‘digital natives’, and so most of this age range commonly use social media as a part of their daily lives. I will make sure to utilise this as a part of my website by including social media links. Due to the higher income of a middle-market audience, fans will be more likely to spend money on merchandising and tour tickets, which will be something I will bear in mind when it comes to creating the website’s merchandise and tour pages. To aid this, I will ensure to include many commercial imperatives to encourage sales. I will feature multiple ‘easter eggs’ that will provide gratification for fans of the band, including a ‘mixtapes’ playlist section with each band’s favourite songs. As it is a convention of many music websites, I will include a competition to win prizes as well as multiple opportunities for audience interaction with the band, such as a competition to dress up as an 80s film character. Another website convention I aim to include is a collaboration with a brand and a charity to represent the band’s beliefs and interests. 

 

How do you intend to link your media products to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the digitally convergent nature of your media production? (approx. 100 words). 

To create digital convergence, I will establish a coherent brand identity through a clear house style with a consistent colour scheme, logo, and ‘retro’ visual style on both my website and in my music video. The music video will be embedded on my website, as well as links to music and social media platforms. Brand identity will also be reinforced through the inclusion of the same iconography and colour scheme for each band member on both products. In the merchandise section, fans will be able to buy the same badges that one of the band member’s wears in the music video. The website will also feature a section where the band explains their inspiration and ideas for the music video, as well as a section explaining their own musical influences, which audiences will gain gratification from. 

Music Video and Website - Intertextuality + Easter Eggs

Music Video:

Intertextuality:

My music video centres around and pays homage to 80s pop culture (with an emphasis on film): 

• The Breakfast Club: 
• Each band member plays a separate ‘stereotype’ from the film, seen through their performances and iconic costume. 
• The singer = ‘The Athlete’ 
• The bassist = ‘The Brain’ 
• The lead guitarist = ‘The Criminal’ 
• The drummer = ‘The Princess’ 
• The rhythm guitarist = ‘The Basket Case’ 
• Intertextual references to the narrative of the film are seen throughout:
• The characters being ‘in detention’, beginning by not speaking to each other, but ending up friends by the end. 
• The recreation of specific iconic scenes, such as the running through the corridors, individual dances, and group dances. 
• The cameo of the ‘teacher’ character, reenacting iconic scenes such as searching for the students and doing the ‘rock sign’. 
• Bill and Ted: 
• The guitarists recreating the infamous Bill and Ted ‘punching the air’ shot.
• Ferris Bueller: 
• The shot of the singer lying on the grass with his hands
• Loosely referenced with the end montage of the band members enjoying themselves after escaping detention, just like how Ferris and his friends escape school to enjoy the day. 
• The Lost Boys: 
• The night-time exterior shots of the seafront, arcades, and fireworks taking inspiration from the ‘boardwalk’ scenes in the film.
• Big: 
• The shot during the arcade montage with the fortune teller machine. 
• Stand By Me: 
• Loosely referenced with the strong friendship of the group, especially during the end montage. 

Website:

Easter Eggs:

• In the music video, the ‘Criminal’s jacket displays multiple badges, including 5 badges for each of the characters that the members play in the video, one badge with a crow on, and one with a rock sign on. This is merchandise that is advertised on the website, where fans can choose to buy the badge corresponding to their favourite member (or alternatively, all the badges).
• On the website, when you click on each member’s ‘about me’ description, an image of their favourite 80s film appears.