Music Marketing Blog Post #1

    In our music marketing project, we have progressed by following the plan that we set from day one. To begin our project, we thoughtfully selected our song, Need You Now, because of the story telling dynamic of a relationship going through heart break. We were off to an immediate challenge when considering the choices we were going to make for our music video and artist, due to the fact that none of the members in our group listen to the genre of country. We found ourselves looking through various websites in attempt to better our knowledge of the basics within country, most importantly on the marketing aspect. With this information, we made our case study charts. 

    With that being said, our next step was was to create a plan for the music video, as well as begin our power point presentation. Fortunately, the storyboarding was relatively easy for us and the ideas came to us quite well. Collectively, we agreed that our music video was going to have our artist telling the story of the heartbroken couple, while using a multitude of different shots and lighting to capture what we envision. As far as the presentation goes, we set out a plan for marketing our brand from the beginning of the project. We thought of various partnerships and sponsorships and decided on a Jack Daniel Whiskey collaboration, a nod to the culture of country, along with a line of lipstick for our artist, something that can easily represent her and can up her publicity.  We shared our thoughts on a multitude of ways to promote our artist's music, such as touring, social media and merchandise. Although there was an initial struggle with what to put on our slides for our presentation, the ideas were there. We gave ourselves some time to really focus on our power point and we progressed greatly.

    Capping off what we have finished most recently, we recorded nearly all of the clips needed for our music video and have began editing. While recording, we took an abundance of extra shots, so that editing our piece would be easier and our final product would be more enjoyable.  Using different settings should break up our video and make it seem less repetitive. Additionally, the contrast from the story being told and our artist telling the story should add a level of uniqueness to our music video. We had some trouble when looking for certain props that we were stuck on, such as the bright lipstick and the alarm clock, in which we felt were crucial elements of the video.

    In the near future, we have to finish up what we have started within the presentation, as well as record our final shots in a different location on Monday the 29th. With these shots, we will edit the remainder of our music video. Finally, we must complete the voice recordings of our presentation and review our information to the point where we can use the presentation as only a guide to our audience and less of a refresher of our knowledge.

Representation in Euphoria

   In Sam Levinson's season 1 of Euphoria, a deep dive into the portrayal of the complexities within modern adolescence captivated fans.

  One of the main representations that is captured in Euphoria is the issues of mental health with teens. Main character Rue, played by Zendaya, is a focal point through out the show, demonstrating an uphill battle with anxiety, depression and substance abuse. The show eliminates stigmas associated with mental health by shedding attention on the difficulties that many young people today confront, through powerful and uncensored performances, such as the disconnect between Rue and her mother through out the season, dealing with Rue's mental health, as well as the final scene, where Rue experiences a relapse, which is captured in an informal and theatrical manner with intense music and powerful colors. The characters' emotional struggle is highlighted by Euphoria's multimedia depiction of these problems, which deepens the narrative.

  In addition, the show defies societies norms and pushes limits by tackling identity and sexuality directly. The transgender character Jules, played by Hunter Schafer, has an open journey that resonates with the audience. The difficulties that transgender people have are depicted in Euphoria without holding back, offering an opportunity for discussion on the significance of media representation. Multimedia elements, such as cast and creator interviews, let the audience understand the careful process that went into developing these stories. 

 The show explores the intersections of race, class, and gender by presenting a diverse cast that reflects the complexity of real-world situations. For example, Kat, played by Barbie Ferreira, is a plus-size teenager who initially battles with difficulties related to body image and self-esteem. The show challenges traditional beauty standards by shedding emphasis on the connection of gender and body image as it follows her through her high school experience. Kat's story touches on societal expectations for women, especially those who don't fit into the norm, in addition to body positivity.

  Another aspect of Euphoria that draws viewers in is its depiction of relationships and the effects of social media on young, impressionable minds. The program explores the specifics of modern teenage relationships, highlighting weaknesses and fears made worse by the internet era. As an example, Maddy (Alexa Demi), gets involved in a toxic relationship with Nate (Jacob Elordi). Social media's continual observation of him makes Nate even more controlling and manipulative. The digital age puts more pressure and criticism on young couples, as Euphoria clearly illustrates.   

Genre Research

 HORROR

• Conventions of Horror 

  The use of ominous and tense music to evoke a sense of impending doom is a common practice in horror movies. For instance, the renowned sound for Alfred Hitchcock's classic film "Psycho," which features shrieking violins, has come to represent terror. Another common practice, using dim lighting and dark, shadowy environments to heighten the frightful atmosphere. This is best shown in James Wan's "The Conjuring," when the haunted house is frequently enveloped in darkness, increasing the audience's suspense for the next horrifying encounter with the paranormal. These cliches help horror movies provide viewers a deeper psychological and emotional experience, which increases their ability to frighten viewers with memorable moments.

• Production Techniques in Horror

  Production techniques in horror films are vital in creating a chilling and suspenseful atmosphere. Sound and music modification is one often employed method. In Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," the spooky sound design and unnerving ambient music are essential components in creating tension. The combination of abrupt, startling noises and quiet can frighten and unsettle viewers, heightening the atmosphere of dread. In order to further confuse and generate a sense of unease, creative camera techniques including tracking shots, slow zooms, and deft framing are used. These production methods, when paired with creative lighting and set design, greatly enhance the ability of horror movies to frighten and intrigue the audience.

• Marketing Horror

  The marketing of the horror genre is a methodical procedure that takes advantage of people's fundamental fascination with fear and their need for thrilling experiences. In order attract potential viewers' interest and build suspense, trailers and advertising frequently focus on the most frightful and exciting scenes. To communicate with viewers, movie companies frequently use interactive promotions, viral marketing, and social media campaigns. Additionally, cryptic taglines and ominous, captivating imagery are frequently used in horror movies to create a recognizable and unsettling brand identity. Uncanny creatures or symbols, such as the mask from "Halloween" or the creepy doll from "Annabelle," can also be effectively used as marketing tools. Furthermore, horror movies usually have a planned launch date to capitalize on holidays like Halloween. To further stimulate fans' interest and create hype, they are generally accompanied with immersive experiences, haunted house activities, and merchandising. All of these promotional techniques are designed to appeal to viewers' innate terror responses and entice them into the thrilling world of horror films.

• The Shining (1980)

  A classic example of the horror genre, Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is renowned for its skill in generating tension and terror in the audience's mind. The renowned Overlook Hotel and a backdrop that contributes to the sense of isolation and impending doom, is what creates the creepy mood of the film. With its slow tempo and tense camera work, the movie keeps audiences on edge the entire time, allowing them to experience the protagonists' mounting anxiety and dread. The captivating portrayal of Jack Torrance, spiraling into insanity, by Jack Nicholson is unsettling and unforgettable. In addition, the film's eerie sound design and haunting soundtrack by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind add to the ominous atmosphere. "The Shining" is a classic instance of how the horror genre can delve deeply into the human psyche and leave a lasting and unpleasant effect on its viewers. It brilliantly addresses themes of familial breakdown, the supernatural, and the breakdown of one's sanity. 

• Hereditary (2018)

  "Hereditary" by Ari Aster is a terrifying and extremely unpleasant movie that perfectly captures the essence of the horror genre through its skillful use of psychological distress and familial dread. The film explores the breakup of an apparently normal family as they deal with paranormal forces and hereditary trauma. It uses the uncomfortable dynamics of a family in disarray to create an oppressive mood of anxiety through its slow and relentless pacing. The film's terrifying and startling scenes make it difficult to differentiate between the supernatural and the actual world, leaving spectators feeling uneasy all the time. The film's intensity is increased by Toni Collette's outstanding performance, in which she plays a mother on the cusp of insanity. "Hereditary" illustrates how this horror may tap into our deepest anxieties, disrupting our sense of reality and producing an unsettling and unforgettable experience. 

• Personal Favorites
• Sinister
• Get Out 
• The Silence of the Lambs
  
• It 
  
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) 
  
• Insidious
  

Sound Project

 Description of Project:

• With a partner, plan and create a story that is depicted only by the use of sounds. Using digital sounds found online, along with foley sounds that were created and recorded by the group members. The story must be 1-2 minutes with a maximum word count of seven. A minimum of 4 foley sounds are to be used and a picture must be taken of the process.
• Soundscape Planning.docx

Approach of the development:

•   When reading the instructions, I immediately thought about the sounds that I hear most each and every day. Given that I play a ton of basketball and have practice every day, I knew I wanted to do something involved with basketball. My partner came up with the idea of an athlete breaking their bone, which we could create with foley, by breaking pasta in half. With every day sounds and foley in mind, we began planning with the story of a basketball player breaking a bone while playing.
•   Moving on, we knew our foley sounds would be the distinct squeaking of basketball sneakers on a court, which I recreated using basketball sneakers on tile floor in the school hallway, along with the sound of the ball passing from player to player. We decided to include a walk into the gym to create a differentiation in scenes, as well as to create a wider variety of sounds. My partner gathered footsteps from outside and we created our opening scene where the person gets out of the car and walks into the gym.
• Using the sounds we collected online, the following scenes were fairly easy to put into place. My partner created a setting bag down sound using foley, and I created more footsteps using basketball sneakers. We layered the sounds in a way so that they flowed well together and left no missing components that most people do not realize in the real world, such as white noise. Considering we knew what we wanted with the end of our scene right from the beginning of our planning, it was fairly simple to out together and create a final product.
• https://www.capcut.com/presentation/7291115799274733574?workspaceId=7290704452846305286                                                 

Blog Creation

Daniel

• I am creating a blog to have an abundance of ideas and analysis of past assignments or projects. A blog is an easy way to navigate through topics and explore work of myself, as well as my classmates.

Camera Shots/Angles Quiz

 Directions of Activity:

• Create a 15-shot story with a partner, using particular shot types to precisely establish tone. In the story, two inanimate objects were to be the subject of attention, showcased by a selection of shots that would be used, in order, to build tone and emotion. The shots must be labeled with a short description on what shot is being used and how it effects the plot of the story.

Summary of Approach:

• My partner and I planned out the fifteen shots on paper, using the process of elimination to pick and choose what shots to use and at what time during our story. With the planning of our shots and a determined mindset, the execution of our final product came fairly easy to us. We played with the positioning of our subjects and the angles to elevate a clear depiction of which character has power and the factor of intimidation on his opponent.

Reflection

• Taking into consideration that my partner and I received a 50/50 score on our submission, I don't feel that there is much to critique. We were very pleased with the final result. The shots and the configuration of the story truly mesh well with each other. Within the story, I believe that our choice of setting and the strategy of establishing that vast field in comparison to the small-sized water bottles highlighted the scale of the story moving forward. Additionally, I am content about the idea of conveying emotion on the water bottles with sticky notes and close up shots. With that being said, I do believe that the last shots at the end of the story should have shown the defeated look on the face of the blue bottle, before getting that extreme closeup of the tear. However, we were limited to only 15 shots, and we are pleased with the result of our story.

Link

Camera shots 2.pptx