Advertisment for Neyo

CD Cover for Neyo

I done further practice of the layout and colour scheme that we might use for our CD Cover on Adobe photoshop. I did a silver and gold theme as the colour scheme because those colours are linked to R&B and the conventions, as the colours both connote wealth and link to extravagance (eg: jewelry). It looks like a more classier colour scheme and professional CD Cover.

Practice making CD Cover for Neyo

Comments on Third Filming

For the third filming we were filming the river scenes, which included both romantic shots of their relationship. However, also shots were their relationship had broken down. For the breakdown of their relationship shots the weather was very miserable which suited the atmoshphere we were trying to create in those shots. We had alot of footage of the river scenes which came in handy when editing as it helped fill in gaps of filming we could not use. It also helped our music video have quicker shots and make our scenes and shots in some places shorter and quicker as it broke up the scenes that were too long. This helped as quick shots is what typical R&B music videos use. Which was useful as one shot was 14 seconds on Adrian singing, which was too long of a shot.
Later on we were filming the scenes at my house where the female character Yoda is cheating on Adrian with Derek. The problems that occured was setting up the whole 'mise en scene' of the cheating scene, which was meant to be occuring in Derek's bedroom in the music video narration. Therefore, as we were filming in my room which is kind of girly we had to make changes to my room in order to make it more 'boylike.' Consequently, I took props and some of my brothers things from his room in order to make it a better mise en scene. We added my brothers aftershave on the side cabinet along with some weights. We also hung up a calender for men where a women was in lingerie on the wall over the bed.
Also my room is very narrow and filming midshots and longshots proved very difficult to do while using a tripod. We overcome this issue by standing right back and moving the cabinet and wardrobe right backwards, in order to give some extra space to successfully get the camera shots we wanted for our music video.
We also had issues with costume, however, we found some black shorts that she wore in the end. My dog also kept running in and out of the room interupting the filming. So I overcame this problem by putting him in my sisters room while we were filming.
What worked well in my room was the lighting as I have a lightswitch which you can dim or make brighter. Therefore by diming the lights slightly it emphasises and shows the cheating as bad as the lighting was not bright and showing happy times.

Target audience sheets

Comments on Second Filming - 3rd March

On our second filming we had to film the second lot of scenes that was of Adrian acting as Neyo singing on a stage. We filmed this in our school hall as it has a big stage, however, we had to get permission of the headteacher first. We decided to do this scene as it is a typical method that Neyo uses in his music videos, therefore, we had to dress Adrian like Neyo. So Adrian came to our school dressed in a smart formal suit. Although, we did not have the hat that Neyo wears. We overcome this problem by going to the drama department at our school, and asking the teacher if they have any hats from our previous play guys and dolls. Luckily the teacher had one and this completed the costume for Neyo dressed formal.
Halfway through filming we also had the issue of having to share the room while filming with the drama teacher, as they were acting in the hall at the same time we were filming. We overcome this issue by when we were filming the drama students would stop.
On our storyboard we had to change shot 14 as all the shots on the stage were mainly long shots. So we tried to make it look more interesting and vary the shots, we did this by making the long shot into a midshot instead. We also did this because typically in Neyo's music videos and R&B music videos is shots change between shots very quickly, so we tried to break up the shots and add varied shots.
Overall, what worked well was there was spotlights shinning down on Adrian while he was singing. This portrays Adrian as innocent and the victim in this video, as he is the one being cheated on.
We also researched Neyo's music videos and had to get the costume that resembles what Neyo wears in his music videos. Therefore Adrian who played Neyo was wearing a suit in this scene we were filming, and due to the usual conventions of R&B artists he is also wearing alot of 'flashy' jewerlly in order to fit into the R&B genre and stereotype.

Filming

This is us filming our first scenes at Christianna's house.

Comments on first filming - 24th Feburary

We occured some problems on our first filming, the original female character Danielle could no longer participate in the video, therefore, we had to replace her with another person called yoda.
We first began our filming at Christiannas house as it showed the scenes between Adrain playing Neyo's character and Yoda. The problems we had to also overcome is that when we were filming the scene in the bedroom in Christianna's house. We had to get a downward tilt on Adrian and Yoda lying down in the bed. This was quite difficult as the tripod was not tall enough. Therefore, we had to get on a step ladder to get enough height to look down on them.
Also we had to prep Christianna's house and set the scene correctly as a home accomodating a young couple. Therefore had to remove pictures of Christianna and her family. We also had to refer back alot to our storyboard and our plan of the whole music video immensly. As we had to make sure they are wearing the correct clothes, timing is correct and the lyrics are in sinc. Which was a challenge as it meant extreme organisation skills, and if timing was wrong meant the whole music video and filming was wrong. So the storyboard was extremely important.
During filming however, the female character Yoda had to wear a coat. On the day I had a red coat, and we thought that would be a better costume for her to wear as it connotes passion and danger, which links to her cheating as she is off to meet the other guy. However, this worked better and worked effectively. We made sure Yoda was wearing red alot in our music video as it connotes cheating.

Analysis of a Digipak in the pop, rock and dance genre

Analysis of a Digipak in the R&B genre

Analysis of a Digipak from R&B - Black Eyed Peas

As I am doing a music video from the R&B genre and would have to make a digipak from a R&B genre, I researched into what R&B digipaks look like and the conventions and codes they use. This has been helpful as it has helped me decide what needs to go into my digipak. I have concluded from this research that the artists have been made to look extremely aspirational to the target audience. Which helpes me as when we are making our Neyo Digipak, we can do the same.

Analysis of a Digipak from another genre - Pop

Through my research of Digipaks, even though I am doing the R&B genre, I was curious to research other genres also and consequently compare them in the end. Therefore I researched a Digipak from the Pop genre.

Adobe Photoshop CD practice - using effects.

Practice making CD covers -First attempt

I am practicing making cd covers in Adobe Fireworks CS5 and Adobe photoshop CS5. This has helped me as it will give me better experience when it comes to making our cd cover for our music video. I have chosen Usher as he is one of my favourite R&B singers and is recognised everywhere. I decided to do a Monochrome scheme as it is quite simple and shows that not much effort has to be put into it to make it good, as he is well known and most of the attention is on the artist. However, I decided to add a splash of red on the back of the cd cover underneath where the picture of Usher is standing, you can also see a bit of red on the top of Ushers picture. Red also helps break up the black and white and makes it eye catching.
On the front of the cd cover, a mid shot is used of Usher, therefore it focuses on the artist. I chose this picture for the front cover of the cd, as it portrays Usher in a friendly manner as he is smiling and looking warmly towards the camera in this shot. Consequently this would more than likely cause the audience to buy his cd, as he is shown in a positive way, therefore is more influencial. I also chose it as his hands are in a love heart shape which once again emphasies his friendly manner, but I thought would also be good was to put his name in this love heart shape.
This photo of Usher also shows him showing the usual conventions of an R&B artist as he has alot of expensive and 'chunky' jewerlly on. This shows his wealth and makes him desireable and aspiational to both females and males.

Cee lo Green - The lady killer. CD cover

I have researched into other R&B artists to gain an understanding of what other R&B artists use as their CD covers. In this CD Cover Cee Lo Green is wearing oversized glasses which fits into the conventions of R&B videos. It shows their wealth and gives them high status, which makes them seem important. The glasses are white and his shirt is is white also, this emphasises innocence and portrays him in a good light. However, it contrasts with the title of his album which is called 'the lady killer,' which suggests a not so innocent
There is also a really oversized ring, which is very sparkly. This also once again shows wealth and makes him seem desirable to women and an inspiration to women. The cd cover is blue and purple. Blue is a very calm colour and it emphasises peace. Purple is usually associated with royalty and nobility. Therefore these colours present Cee Lo Green as very high statused and of high importance. It could even possibly reference him to being a king of his genre. This is because he is represented as someone who looks like they are in authority. Therefore this shows representation of men as being very powerful.

Neyo - In my own words. CD cover analysis

Since we are doing Neyo for our music video, I have researched into CD covers for Neyo as I have to make a CD cover myself for a song made by him. In Neyos CD cover, his album is called 'In my own words.' This links into the CD cover because at the left side of the CD you can see it looks like a notebook. This is clever as it makes the CD case seem like a notebook and consequently makes the songs inside the CD case seem as neyos words and writings. It almost seems like a autobiography as it has a picture of Neyo on the front.

In the background of the CD front cover it has writing which also suggests a book. A close up of his face is used to emphasis his importance, it also presents him as approachable and the image of him looks very soft. Consequently, he is represented as a gentle character and approachable, as close up shots are usually used to show emotion. This appeals to the audience of young girls, and also people in general as he is portrayed as a nice artist. He is wearing his signature hat again and a black suit. Which emphasises a sophisticated look and appeals to women. He is also wearing a white shirt, which shows innocence and portrays him as a good guy. Therefore, the representation of men is presented in a good way. He is shown as a very intellectual man expressing his feelings on paper, therefore, showing he is in touch with his emotions.

On the back cover of the CD it has the notebook and a pen and once more again writing imprinted in the background. The drawing of the box around the barcode, in terms of drawing looks very sketchy, as if someone drew it roughly. Therefore, it links to the idea of the notebook. The book has red on the edge of the pages, which could connote passion and show it is a dairy. However, the green colour around the book could connote jealousy. Furthermore this could suggest a love story. Therefore this links as most of the songs on this album are about love.

Neyo - Libra Scale. CD cover analysis

Since we are doing Neyo for our music video, I have researched into CD covers for Neyo as I have to make a CD cover myself for a song made by him. In the front CD cover for Neyo, he is presented as a superhero. As his music videos have a storyline that portrays him as a superhero. The photo on the CD cover has been photo shopped and Neyo's hand looks like it is glowing consequently it looks magical, which shows superpowers. The people in the background dressed in white, also have white glowing eyes and glowing hands. Consequently the representation of men is shown here as inspirational to young boys and girls, although mainly boys as young boys are aspired by superheros and comics. Therefore, these pictures on the CD cover show intertextuality for comic books and superhero films such as Bat Man.

He once again is wearing a suit which is very smart and is wearing his signature hat which he is known for. This is used alot on R&B as it makes the artist seem desirable and wealthy.

In the background of the CD cover there are people in the back who have powers also. They are all wearing white, whereas he is wearing black which therefore could suggest is he a good hero? Buildings are shown in the background which emphasises this story is presented in a city, where it is busy. Dark colours are used in this CD cover and it is set at night night which is eerie and creates a sense of mystery and suspense.

'Libra Scale' is the name of his album and Libra is apart of astrology and is a horoscope. Libra is presented as scales in astrology and therefore suggests balance. Which in this case could suggest the balance between good and evil...possibly could suggest one is out winning the other.
On the back cover of the CD, it shows Neyo looking down onto the city that is lit up. This could either suggest two things, he is good and protecting the city. Or he is bad and is preying over it. The sky is really clouded in it and this adds to the mystery.

Chris Brown. CD cover analysis

I have also researched into other artists CD covers in order to gain a further understanding of what other R&B artists include in their CD covers. This will help me when it comes to making my CD cover.

In Chris Browns front CD cover, he has a picture of himself which is voyerism. It makes the audience focus on him. He is wearing alot of jewerlly on the front CD cover which links to him being a R&B artist. It makes him seem desireable to people and seem wealthy. It is a usual convention of R&B, and many R&B artists do this. His name is spray painted on the front CD cover, which suggests youth. It shows he is a young artist and links back to his carefree attitude and style. A microphone is drawn into his name, which shows he is a singer and is also a thing that you expect to see on a young artists CD cover.

On the back cover his songs are listed once again in spray painting technique. He is wearing sunglasses which is something most R&B artists do, this is used as a method of improving image. It makes the artist seem more desireable and wealthy and gives them higher status. He is dressed as a typical teenager, in jeans and a yellow top. Yellow is a bright colour which is very uplifting, which emphasises his youth. He is wearing immaculate white trainers, which is an aspiration symbol linked to R&B. It is like in Snoop Dog and Pharrell's music video when they are pointing out their expensive lifesyle due to their jewerlly and clothes, they point out their trainers. Consequently it makes the artist more desireable and shows their wealth. He is sitting upon a window which many R&B artists do in their music videos when a love story is involved. This appeals to an younger audience of girls.