Music Marketing 2

 After weeks of hard work, our music marketing project is done!!! From group calls in the middle of the night to shooting a music video in 5 hours, this project has been a tiring but rewarding process. Throughout I've learned so much from my class and amazing group members. Here's a recap of all of our hard work summarized in just 40 seconds!

Music Marketing 1

 In my Aice media class, our latest assignment was to build a marketing campaign for an upcoming music artist/band. The purpose of the campaign was to introduce our artist to the general public. The project is split into 3 parts:

1. Choose a song for our artist's first single. 

2. Create a distribution/marketing campaign

3. Create a storyboard and music video for the chosen song.

To plan this large project we decided to initially all research together to come up with the artist and then split up when it came to the campaign and the storyboard.

My groups assigned genre for the project was Alternative. From our options we decided to settle on the song "The Man" by the band, "The Killers." We chose this option as we thought the instrumentals were groovy and dreamy, and it inspired us artistically.

For the distribution and marketing campaign, we first needed to create our artist. After doing research on the alternative genre, we learned that it has a big scene in New York. Thus, we had our artist born and raised in New York State. We also learned that alternative music is big in the United Kingdom, so our artist's parents are immigrants from England, and to take it a step further they are music teachers. 

When creating our artist, we decided on a 23-year-old male named "Ace Dmitri." His brand is somewhere along the lines of "Cool, fashionable guy you see across the street and are immediately entranced with." He is heavily inspired by vintage fashion/music, specifically the 70's and 80's. We decided to do this as it meant our artist could be marketable to a wide range of ages.

After researching popular colors in 70's media we decided that his color palate for his style, social media, and upcoming albums should be warm tones and colors, specifically, orange, purple, red, yellow, and warm green.

Another part of his brand identity is that he is a witty sarcastic individual who always speaks his mind. We wanted to make him as authentic as possible, as a way to connect with audiences. However, to prevent possible scandal/controversy his social media is monitored by his label.

When researching possible social media use, we learned that many upcoming artists use TikTok to promote their music by attempting to start trends, so we wanted Ace to do that. By looking at popular artist TikTok accounts we noticed that they all seemed more personal than on other social media platforms, so we decided to also utilize a more personal and authentic approach to Ace's Tiktok. However, we decided to take a different approach for Instagram. We decided on a highly stylized account with a clear color scheme and theme. 

Regarding a website, by looking at other upcoming music artist's websites we saw multiple common factors, an about me section, social media links, merch, and music links. For Ace Demitri we plan to have all of these things as well. His about me section will be short and mysterious, making him more intriguing to audiences, urging viewers to keep following his work.

For distribution Ace Dimitri will have Disks sold at cafes, websites, Spotify store, Indie record stores. Embraces physical music remnant of listening to music in the 70s. However, all of his music will also be available on music streaming services, as it will make him available to a wider audience.

After we did all this research our group started brainstorming and finalizing music video ideas, but more on that next week! :)

-Aneesa M. Bajaj

Audiences love love: a deep dive into romance movies

Genre

Couple’s Halloween costumes, couple's Christmas gift exchanges, people display their unique love stories year-round. Romance movies take this idea and showcase the versatility and beauty of love stories. 

Content:

Plot Structure: Romance films usually follow a familiar plot structure, such as the "meet-cute," conflict or misunderstanding, and a resolution where the characters either come together or part ways.

Character Types: Central characters often carry traits that create challenges or tension in the relationship. For example, one character may be guarded and closed off, while the other is open and ready for love.

Themes: Common themes include love and connection, destiny, personal growth, and sometimes heartbreak or sacrifice.

Production Techniques:

Lighting: Warm land soft lighting is often used in intimate moments to show peace and romance.

Cinematography: Close-up shots are frequently used to capture the emotion between characters, and scenic views may enhance romantic settings.

Music: Soundtracks are often used to set a sentimental or uplifting mood, helping to enhance the emotional parts of the story.

Marketing:

One reason the genre is so popular is its wide target audience, which ranges from teens to middle-aged people. While romance movies are enjoyed by both male and female audiences, they are more commonly targeted toward female interests.

Romance movie posters are often created to showcase the chemistry and passion between the leads. The main characters are usually the sole focus of the poster and are often positioned closely or in some sort of embrace to demonstrate their connection. Their expressions are often of happiness or longing; to convey the yearning they feel for each other. Soft lighting, warm tones, and romantic backdrops like cityscapes or sunsets are commonly used to set a sentimental tone. Posters often feature a tagline hinting at the relationship’s central conflict or theme, sparking curiosity and drawing in viewers who enjoy love-centered narratives.

Another marketing technique is planned release dates. Romance films are often released around Valentine’s Day or Christmas, capitalizing on occasions that are associated with love and togetherness.

Samples:

The Notebook (2004)

The film “The Notebook” perfectly exemplifies the classic romance genre. It’s a passionate love story with emotional depth and themes of love, sacrifice, and longing. The film tells the story of Noah and Allie, who come from different classes and lives, forming their lifelong bond. It adheres to the genre conventions in every aspect, with passionate chemistry between leads, obstacles, and a heartfelt resolution amplified by the highs and lows of their emotional relationship. The cinematography is warm, the setting nostalgic, and the soundtrack evocative. All the factors combine to create just the right romantic atmosphere and make The Notebook a real archetype of this genre.

To all the boys I've loved before (2018)

On a more lighthearted and modern note, "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," is a fresh take on the classic romance. It embodies the genre through the exploration of young love, while still upholding the same genre conventions. The story follows high schooler Lara Jean, and her life turns upside down when her love letters to previous crushes are released. The film has classic romance tropes, like fake dating and friends to lovers. The chemistry between the leads is clear, they overcome challenges together, and the ending is sweet and hopeful. This film is a great example of how the romance genre is evolving and shifting to include a wider audience range.

Romance movies to consider:

Casablanca (1942)

When Harry met Sally (1989)

Titanic (1997)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

One of my guilty pleasure shows is Jane the Virgin. This modern-day telenovela has been one of my mom and I’s favorite shows for years. Focusing on a family of Venezuelans living in Miami, Florida, this show hits close to home. The main character, Jane, is a second-generation Venezuelan immigrant living with her mother and grandmother. Similarly, I live with my immigrant parents, my mother a Colombian immigrant. 

In the show “Jane the Virgin,” the representation of characters is complex and multifaceted, using a combination of drama and comedy to delve into social issues, relationships, and identities.  Jane’s representations illustrate the diversity and depth of Latina women in contemporary media. Jane, the main character, is portrayed as a bright, ambitious, and determined young woman. Her representation challenges typical Latina stereotypes by presenting her as both devoutly religious and career-focused, navigating the complexities of her life as a single mother, a student, and an aspiring writer. Jane's journey underscores her independence and ambition while celebrating her cultural heritage and family values.

On the other hand, Xiomara Janes's mother shows a different side of girlhood. Xiomara, Jane’s mother, embodies a different facet of Latina womanhood. She is passionate, free-spirited, and unapologetically confident, contrasting Jane's more cautious and calculated approach to life. Xiomara’s storyline addresses the struggles of balancing personal ambitions with motherhood, especially as she tries to carve out her own identity while supporting her daughter and dealing with family expectations. Through Xiomara, the show examines the pressures placed on women to conform to certain traditional values, such as marriage and motherhood, while highlighting her own dreams of pursuing a music career. This tension between personal aspiration and family duty is a key theme explored through her character.

Sound Project

 For our latest project, we were tasked with creating a 1–2-minute soundscape, using sound effects from online databases as well as homemade foley sounds. The project audio only and couldn't contain any video. 

First, we had to think of ideas and complete a brainstorming sheet. My partner and I brainstormed many ideas including a shark attack, a basketball game, and a few other ideas. Ultimately, we decided on the basketball game.

Then, once we decided on our final idea, we had to complete an outline. The outline had to be very detailed and include every sound we would use to make our soundscape a more realistic representation of our scene. The final sound project had to include at least 4 sounds made through foley, so in my outline I also planned that out. Here is a section from my outline:

On the side line

1. Loud crowd cheering

2. water bottle being handed over

3. Drinking water bottle

4. Loud breathing

5. Referee Whistle

6. Coach “YOUR ON”

7. Bench creaking when person gets up

8. Person lets out a “argh”

9. Running footsteps

(The highlighted sections represent sound made through Foley!)

Then it was time to actually start my project. My partner and I went through online sound effects databases and used our outline to find all the sounds we needed. The outline was very useful and saved us a lot of time since it told us exactly what to look for. 

After finding all of our sounds I utilized Adobe Premiere Pro to edit all the sounds together. I've never edited only audio, so it was fun to try something new.

 

Overall, I liked my sound project and I believe that the story was identifiable and clear. However, looking back at the project there are some things I could definitively improve. My biggest critique was that I could've easily shortened some parts. I used some sounds for longer than necessary and it made parts of the project awkward. Next time I'll definitely be more aware of that! 

Here is the link to my final project: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18cXqSbxBblSF3AtDct5Z8Kz6kqqPt7-K/view?usp=sharing

 

One Word Film

 For one of our very first projects, we were tasked with creating a one-minute short film with a partner, responding to a specific word prompt. Our word was cruel. Before filming, we had to fill out a brainstorming sheet, composed of what each shot should contain, and a storyboard, picturing each shot in drawings. Then, we had to film together and edit our own version of the project individually.

When first assigned our word, my partner and I struggled to make a story, after many ideas, we finally settled on one. Our story was going to be about a hardworking artist whose art piece was cruelly critiqued by his teacher. After finalizing our idea, we began our brainstorming sheet. 

After finishing our brainstorming sheet, we started on our storyboard. Storyboarding was very helpful because it helped us pre-visualize exactly what every shot in our film would look like. 

Once finished with the storyboard and filmed it was time to begin editing. I utilized Adobe Premiere Pro 2023 because it is the editing software I have installed on my personal laptop and the software I have the most experience with. 

After completing my project, I was mostly proud of my result. I'm especially proud of my color grading, as originally many shots looked marginally different in lighting, and I got them to look overall similar. I also liked how I framed most shots, especially the beginning sequence where the student is focused and working on his project.  

If I could go back, I would've framed the last shot differently, as I think it looks a little awkward at the angle it was at. I also would've made the transitions between the different music more seamless. 

Here is the link to my completed project! 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hSPn6dTHuN6Z-yweJl_sG-XHNP0ab4NM/view?usp=sharing

  

 For our first quiz, we had to tell a story using objects in our backpacks. To illustrate the themes and tone, we had to utilize different shots and angles, the final project had to be 15 shots long.

After brainstorming for ideas, I decided to go with a typical coming-of-age story, the first day at a new school. I told the story using three water bottles. 1 to represent the new student and the 2 others to represent students who already attend the school.  

I believe I selected shots and arranged them in a way that effectively conveyed the emotions and feelings of the characters as the story unfolded. My favorite shots are the POV shot with the Dutch angle because it accurately demonstrates the character's confusion to the audience, and the first medium shot because it has depth by including the other character in the background. However, on the tenth slide for the over-the-shoulder shot, I should have framed the shot closer to the clear water bottle, giving the effect that the camera has a view over its shoulder.

file:///C:/Users/anees/Downloads/Camera%20Shots%20Quiz%20(2).pdf