The painter in this video represents the artist and creator of the band. She is revealed to the audience at an early stage during an establishing shot of her art studio with the help of the mise en scene of paint to enforce her character. In some cases she could be viewed metaphorically as the marketing creator of the band who is adapting and sculpting the bands image to how the target audience wish them to be perceived. This allows a developed narrative to occur as the artist begins painting canvas, however soon develops to painting the bodies of the band members which are then revealed at the end. The fact that half naked boys appear in the video demonstrate that it is not conforming to the conventional sexually themes of using naked women in order to entice the opposing sex, however, instead use men which subsequently conform to the traditional image of attracting the opposing sex aimed at our female sector of our audience. An example of this in previous pop videos is Take Thats’ ‘Do what you like.’ Although this was meant to appeal to a gay target audience this is still trying to attract members for sexual intentions. Aspects such as these sell to alluring fans who intend to watch again and again. This was also the case for the artist, as we deliberately chose an attractive girl in order to attract the male targeted audience.
During the editing of our video a fast paced ‘rhythmic’ montage was created and introduced providing a fragmental style, similar to that seen in a previous video called ‘Astronauts and All.’ This was particularly illustrated in our music video where the band members pop backwards and forwards during long shots in the chorus. These ‘pops’ intercut the movement using different camera movements as well as experimenting with tempo style to match the beat exactly; a visual equivalent to the music. We chose to portray our semantic elements in this syntactic form as it allowed us to break the rules of continuity when editing as well as enabling the video to become musically driven instead of by a linear narrative. Additionally to this, motifs and images such as the use of paint brushes and colour maintain the key ‘artist’ themes and therefore an aesthetically pleasing video is created for our target audience inviting them to become apart of the song. This is also the case in terms of a star image for the band, through close ups of faces giving an audience/ artist relationship including the instrumental close ups portraying their star like talents and qualities.
This image symbolises the bands fun loving organic nature and mannerisms. Although they take their music seriously the image proves they still find time to have fun. This is demonstrated effectively through the image of the boys pulling faces in their frames. An audience member can relate to this and see themselves as being similar in their actions.
Dyer suggests that the star image is based upon two key paradoxes, firstly that of ordinariness and extraordinariness and secondly that of presence and absence. Their fun within the frames portray the bands ordinariness, however the band are also viewed as extraordinary in the sense that they are ‘not like us’ due to their star like image and talents. As a result the band are present by being on screen portraying actions viewers can relate to however they are also absent due to their abilities and talents which are perhaps unfamiliar to the audience. More over by having the semantic element of the band painted inside the frames this also indicates their organic and fun like nature as well as their artistic quirky manner making them accessible to their youthful target audience of 16-24 year olds.
The Andy Warhol pop art style containing individual members of the band demonstrates an aesthetically stylish ‘artistic’ mise en scene for the audience, in terms of the saturation and exposure arrangements of colour. In order for our images to come to life I experimented with editing in adobe after effects, where by the canvas were originally painted and filmed with a blue screen background, inspiringly taken from a similar styled music video named ‘Bring me to life’ by Evanessence. Throughout this video, special effects such as CGI as well as a blue screen background is used. In our own video we used the same techniques to import the heads and lips into the individual framed canvas’ to create a unique cinematographic appearance. The image also helps promote the band as the faces of each member are seen therefore recognisable to their targeted audience sector. The unique artistic style of pop art also provides a light hearted entertainment within the music video and enables it to act as a product in its own right.
At the end of this narrative sequence a twist occurs in which the band hold up a frame of the artist. This portrays a human like quality to the band as they appear to be admiring a ‘normal’ person, in other words not a famous person/artist. This allows the audience to relate to the video as it demonstrates that they themselves are able to attract these ‘extraordinary’ band members. This therefore creates an emotional connection between them. To a certain extent, this reinforces and adapts to the meaning of the song as it is about idolising a girl to be intimate with. This therefore creates a desire for the band, as young female teenagers wish to fill the girls shoes and therefore have believe that they are being directly asked the questions “can you stay up, to see the dawn.” This provides an open polysemic experience for the audience as each viewer will interpret the song in their own way, creating different perceptions of the same video. This instantly sells the band as it draws fans in to watch again and again to then later go onto buy the future records/albums of that band.
The front cover of our album effectively combines the main product and ancillary texts together as the artistic mise en scene links the elements together. This is shown for example through the use of splats, representing explosions of music outburst into the industry with their new material as well as fundamentals of continuity between the products such as the poster and cover. We specifically designed the front cover to include these artistic elements in order to portray the fun loving and good natured star image of the band. The band members are coming out of the frames demonstrating their desire to break out into the music industry to become big. These conform to the conventions of marketing in the music industry such as similarly shown with the ‘Robots in Disguise’ CD cover where there is a clear use of art as well.
This band was influential at the beginning of the project, such as the use of quirky styled image which we collectively wished to produce. The bands videos as well as song are very colourful and upbeat and therefore the CD cover compliments the music style reinforcing the meaning of the song.
Additionally to this, the band is being sold via the song and CD cover through the cinematography used. This makes viewers want to watch the music video continuously as well as the bands identification and desire being enhanced through the full showing of their faces on the CD covers. This in effect makes the viewers fully aware of whom they are therefore selling their overall image.
The back cover of the CD here illustrates the artist framing the boys. Similarly to the other panels there is an array of colour combinations and splats, with the colour red largely present throughout. Red is known to be an eye catching colour and therefore entices and draws in viewers via the visually stylish layout of the cover. The fact that the artist is framing the band symbolises her as the record company who are nurturing a newly formed band. Having said, this the fact that the band are framing themselves within the frame demonstrates that they are choosing the way they wish to be framed therefore portraying the bands organic nature forming their own image desired. At a later stage the record company will nurture the band by bringing out the bands raw talents such as ability to play their own instruments. Throughout each panel of the CD covers the bands faces are shown therefore promoting the band as well as identification of them. Despite the band looking young and inexperienced this works to their advantage as a stardom image of success against the odds is created in which the band are symbolised as ‘under dogs’ gaining success against belief in the competitive music industry. Each also panel works as a product in its own right.
The poster demonstrates the band pulling faces representing the frames taking on a form of their own in a unique quirky style embodying human like qualities. The fact that these qualities are being portrayed represents the band as ordinary and therefore accessible to their young target audience as viewers feel they are able to relate to these actions. Having said this, the fact they are framed on a poster enhances their extraordinariness and star image to viewers as well. The warm and enticing colours additionally invite the audience to become apart of the band as well as viewers feeling they are able to relate to their fun like behaviour and characteristics. The images portrayed act as a visual equivalent to the bands nature and song through the artist mise en scenes of colours and splats. The splats also act as continuity throughout the CD cover and poster in order for the elements to compliment one another.
