How effective is the combination of your main products and ancillary texts?

It is important for products within the media industry to link to create an effective package. Creating a strong link between an ancillary text and a main product makes it easier for an audience to identify the two together, as a package. This is often done by using similar styles of fonts or flourishes within different products.

The main link between the main product, my music video and the ancillary texts, my CD cover is the title creation. The music video starts with newspaper cuttings of the letters of the band flying into shot using stop motion. My CD front cover uses a font called ‘Earwig Factory’ which is a similar style and creates different sizes and shapes like the newspaper cuttings. This essentially creates a ‘house style’ for the band and can give the band their own image. Having the same font or title style is one of the most important parts of the package as it is one of the first things an audience notices about ancillary texts. This method is used quite often amongst bands within the music industry and is effective because audience recognise a band immediately from a certain style. For example, Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

Shots used from the music video are within the singles artwork. The characters used in the bands music videos also features are the cover artwork.

Throughout my music video are skateboarding clips. These clips were used as a representation of the band and I have continued to feature skateboarding within my ancillary texts. Skateboarding features right through my CD artwork. The images I have taken feature mostly a skater holding his board around a school at night. This emphasises that bad look on skaters and the skater in the photos. The shots give a young mostly male audience inspiration to aspire to be like the skateboarders in the production.

I decided to use a character used in my music video, Ryan, who played bass guitar in the live performance shots used in the video. This again creates a strong link between the product and text and the image of Ryan is enough for the audience to relate him to the band. Using him in the CD cover creates him as the ‘face’ of Blighters and his image makes the audience link this to Blighters. This is used often within the music industry as it is a simple but effective method. The clothing is similar to the skater in the music video, to match the stereotype which again links the video to the text.

For the artwork I didn’t use the exact location used in the music video, of the skate park but I decided to use a stereotypical skater’s location. Although a skate park is a typical spot for skateboarders my choice of a school gives my CD artwork a rebelling feel. This is created by the black and white effect on the images and the high angled lighting. In my music video lighting was a key effect we experimented with. I filmed the video as the sun was going down. This meant I could add my own lighting and therefore have more control over it. I included many shots using low angle lighting to produce a great effect. The two therefore

Overall there is a strong link between my Music video and my text, this link makes it easier to recognise the two as a package and therefore gives the band their own image and style. This makes the combination of the two more effective as they interlink and cross-reference constantly. The links I have created are important links that are immediately recognisable between the two products. Having a familiar face, of Ryan is another feature, in which audiences would recognise him as a band member. When displayed as a package of both music video and CD cover the effective combination is greater because it creates an image for the band which is recognisable for audiences.

Final CD covers

This is my final front cover. I knew I wanted a 'skater image' throughout the CD artwork. This first image sees a skater sitting at a bench with his skateboard surrounded by the dark scenery of a school. This is often a stereo type of skaters, skating in areas such as schools and generally disrupting neighbourhoods. This is also linked with the title of the song which is 'Boys in Motion' where there is often a stereotype of causing trouble and rebelling.
The font used for the artist 'Blighers' I found on a photo editing software, Picasa. The font, 'Earwig Factory' uses a similar style to one that was used in my music video which was newspaper cuttings. Using a similar style almost gives the band their own 'house style' and they can therefore be known for that sort of style. The font I used for the single title 'Boys in Motion'



This is the in side image which has a ghostly effect in a similar location. Again it has a skater image to it and it creates mystery to the artwork. I added a soft focus to highlight the character and add to the blurred affect around the mise-en-scene.




This is the other inside image which is at again a similar location. Again it feature the same 'skater' character leaning against wall overhead lighting which highlights mainly the skateboard.



This is the back cover which includes track list, band website, record label and logo and bar code. I created this image in Photoshop. I created a record company and found a suitable logo to use for it to add to its authenticity. I have added a black and white effect to the original image to keep the same consistency, throughout the artwork. I used the same font for the tracks as the front cover.

Cd Cover Ideas

Here is my first idea where I have used a shot from the music video which was a simple skating shot. The representation of skateboarding came from the title 'Boys in Motion'. I added effects on Photoshop

Similarly to the first idea I have chosen to use an action shot from the music video. This representation again comes from the title 'Boys in Motion' which symbolises an active lifestyle and the freedom which is related to the sports. Particularly in this image where the bike is in mid air.

These images give the 'grungy' look i am trying to put across for the bands digipak. The two also relate well to the music video, in the way they are shots taken from the music video.

Grammatics - Grammatics

This is the front cover for Grammatics debut album which is self titled. The image used is quite a strange one. The image used is quite a strange, as the image features the band members without their heads. (And yes it is a big coincidence that my last album analysis had just heads) Although this doesn't give the audience a clear view of the band members, what you can see from the image is the clothing that is worn. As it is the actual band it creates a realistic representation of the band and their fashion seems to be within the indie-pop genre. This is a similar style to the the band I am using, Blighters.

This is the back of the album which features a similar look to the front image with again the sculpture spelling out the band's name. The track list is conventionally placed on the back as well as some small print about the record label.

Like the Black Kids album, this is their debut album and also features a small booklet which features lyrics to all the songs and some pictures of the band in a collage. Other information such as band members and their roles creates a good way of introducing the band.

The CD is linked with the images on the outside of the CD package as it is the wallpaper pattern which rounds of the product as a package well.

Overall Grammatics have presented themselves well with this debut album. They have used a booklet to introduce the band and included lyrics for fans to learn their songs. A very aesthetically pleasing package.

Partie traumatic - Black Kids

This album is a plain and simple design for the bands debut album. Its in a 'jewell case' which features a small booklet inside.

This is a simple design which has a plain background and uses the big titles to catch the main attention. Again, like The Wombats, Black Kids use a house style of font this gives them something to be recognisable for. The band have pictured themselves on the cover which again they can be recognised instantly. Using a band member or band members is something I am looking to do in my production.

The inside booklet, as shown above, includes lyrics to all the songs on the album as well as images of the band. Including a booklet within the CD package gives privileges to buyers as you wouldn't get it with downloading, illegal or legal. This could influence their audiences decision to buy the CD.

The back of the CD has a again the plain and simple look with the title and a track list. This keeps it clear and easy to understand.

Overall this album gives off a good impression for a debut album. It was important to put the band members faces on the cover as a way of introducing them to music fans. From that they can build a bigger reputation for themselves. Keeping there own house style like they have done by using a unique font for everyone of there products.

The Wombats - Backfire at the Disco

The Wombats single, Backfire at the Disco immediately brings across a warm cheerful mood by using warm colours such as orange and red. This is the front image there is a pastel effect used right through the CD.

The font used is the same as the one used for their album (below). This is a feature throughout all of The Wombats products such as, CDs, T-shirts and posters. This gives them a house style which they can be recognised for. The font is unique and has joined up handwriting which could connote the bands 'inner child'.

(Album)

The inside of the CD is simple, the only other pane in the whole single is the inside left cover. This again has the pastel look carried, The inside includes slightly darker colours which contrast with the outside. It includes information about the band and has a track listing. Normally for an album and occasionally a single this sort of look would be at the back of the package.

The CD is again a simple design it uses an image from the scene in the inside left cover. Its a disco ball which looks good as the CD is obviously round like a disco ball.

Overall this is a warming CD package which creates a good image for the band. It features their house style font which which is recognisable. However it doesn't feature any real photographs or any images of the band members which, when I create my CD cover I will be looking to do.

Cd Cover Types

The two most common types of CD case are the:

Jewell Case

The jewell case is known for being 'the original' CD case where 10 years ago almost every CD case was made with a jewell case. Now there are so many options for not only style but materials. However it is still the most popular to artist and record labels mainly because it is the cheapest to produce.

Digipak

The Digipak design started to become increasingly popular in 2000. It was thought to be the new look and also be better for the environment by using recyclable materials such as paper board and card stock. Using this sort of material also allows the cases to be inprinted which gives the Cds texture.