Digipak Opening

Jack Pout Questions

A video showing me asking questions about the whole process and music video.

Jack's Responses To Designs And Idea's

Below are Jack's video responses to my idea's for the different video's and Digipak designs.

Questions For Jack

This is a list of questions I hope to ask Jack upon interviewing him.

Do you have any idea's as to a brand identity for yourself?
What artworks do you like ?
What style would you like artwork to be for you ?
What are your thoughts on surreal art?
What are your thoughts on the current sketches for the digipak artwork?
Which is your favorite and why?
What do you think of the music video initial ideas?
What do you think about the video's i showed you ?
Would you be happy for techniques like this to be incorporated into your video.
what do you think about the current sketches for character designs ?
Are you happy with the direction the music video is going into Do you think your idea's and input is being included into the designs?

Initial Ideas for Digipak designs

Possible special features my digipak could include :

• Original Shape for Packaging.
• Competition to "meet the band"
• Merchandise Freebies 
• EXCLUSIVE - T-shirts, merchandise
• Free tickets to 'secret' gigs
• Booklet
• DVD's showing making of, extra's, special features, backstage, interviews.
• CD of album and DVD of album video's
• Artwork/Photography
• Photo/Art Book included
• Posters
• Bonus Tracks
• Exclusive Remixes
• Signed by the band
• Including the wording 'limited edition/special edition' onto the CD case

Brand Identity:
     I want there to be a clear theme running through my digipak, music video and magazine advertisement. I  am going to achieve this by using imagery of the clay figurine in most of the Jack products as then it will be clearly recognizeable and people can easily see that it belongs to the 'Jack William Pout' brand. The advantage of this is that people will then want to perhaps collect the imagery if they enjoy it, easily recognize a product from Jack and it sets a identity for Jack that he may elaborate on.

Initial Idea's.
 Below are scans of my initial idea's for the digipak. All items below do not include blurb's or descriptions of Jack's work as i want his CD to be quite clean and minimalistic, however i do plan on including this information in the special features given. This is an advantage of including special merchandise and the like as it means you have more space and can therefore create a cleaner outside CD case. At a later stage if i did choose to include a blurb on the cover i would most likely add it to the middle panel as it would still leave the case minimalistic but the information is more obviously visible to buyers. My reason for wanting a relatively clean case is that this adds mystery to the case, especially when it's a limited/special edition as it makes it feel more artistically based and would attract customers as they can easily identify it as being that extra bit more.

Blurb/BBFC certificate/Barcode/Reviews.
 Although i would include a copy of the blurb within the case, i also think that it is good to consider including it on the outside. Although i wouldnt want to clutter the CD case with this information, it is possible i could put it onto a plastic wallet containing the CD which would be removed when open. Things like the BBFC certificate, barcode and reviews would be included on the outside plastic also and i would design this to fit the final case, so as not to cover any aesthetic details. This information would also be included in the back of the booklet included so that if needed, it can be reffered to.

Digipak Research

 What Is A Digipak ?

A digipak is a form of CD packaging that may also include freebies related to the band/artist. It commonly has a book cover format and will fold out to reveal artwork or photography of the band on the background however with CD(s) held in front of these on a plastic tray. It may also have included special extra's such as a booklet containing special information like exclusive interviews or artwork related to the band. A digipak can be collectible when it is a special or limited edition and fans of the band will be keen to acquire these.

Key Elements Of A Digipak

• Biographical information on the band.
• Contents of the Digipak, any special freebies? 
• Booklet containing Information on the band/artist.
• Feature the band's logo.
• Record Company Logo when applicable
• How to contact the band/Record company-myspace/website addresses
• Barcode
• A BBFC certification (not always applied)
• Artwork/images/photography
• The Digipak must focus on the brand identity.
• Small blurb summarising the music on the album
• Review quotes from magazine (Kerrang/NME/Q/MixMag)

 Forms of Digipak? 

Although there are different options of digipak layouts available I am most likely to use the 6-panel book format as I think this is the most simplistic and appealing to customers. My personal views on other digipak designs is that they are too messy and become over complicated, reducing the audience likely to buy them. Below is a diagram showing a six panel digipak, the placement of CD's and the slit for a booklet is likely to be changed for my design.

Why Would A Digipak Appeal? 

A well made digipak would contain artwork that would appeal to the target audience, they would want to buy it because the artwork is beautifully done-to their taste. A digipak would also represent the band and associate with the brand identity of the band therefore a fan might want it as a collectible of the band's merchandise. In association with this they may also want it to show off to other fans of the band which would then create more interest in the product. Some digipaks contain collectible/exclusive merchandise of the bands which would further generate interest. In the recent climate where people are questioning wether ''Youth Culture is destroying the music industry'', buying a digipak helps to fund the band and further they're career so by buying it a fan is showing they're support for the band. Also, it's just nice to have a physical copy of music, something to be able to hold rather than a download track which is exactly what a digipak provides but in a more special way. Some digipaks are limited edition or for special anniversary's etc. and owning these translates into you owning something rare and coveted, which any true fan would own. Below are some examples of Digipaks:

My favourite CD Designs

Below are just a few of my favourite CD designs for idea's as to how i might present my digipak and the style of artwork that i would like to explore.

Amy Winehouse-Back To Black

System Of A Down-

System Of A Down-Mezmerize

In Flames-Sounds Of A Playground Fading

Pink Floyd-The Dark Side Of The Moon

All of these CD covers have one thing in common, no matter the genre, and that is the minimalistic design. Its important to me not to overcrowd a CD case as this can completely ruin the artwork and would be more likely to ward off buyers. I also think a more simplistic design would suit my artist anyway, with the laid back nature to his music. I also think that an overcrowded CD case is never successful as people just don't want to bother looking at all the information. If the information is spread out and more easy to read they are much more likely to purchase the CD. Most of these covers have surreal designs and this type of artwork would be likely to feature on my outcome.

Art My Artist Likes

As im representing him with this digipak I am very keen to include my artist Jack's opinions to create a final brand identity we are both happy with, following a conversation on digipak's Jack shortlisted his favourite CD covers/digipak's/artwork to these

The Faces- OOH LA LA

This cover takes a simple image and then by editing it they have created a more surreal image. They have edited both the eyes and mouth area to create more interest to these area's. I quite like this design however am not really sure how I could use it in my own digipak design

Captain Beefheart - Bluejeans and Moonbeams
I really like the dreamlike feel of this CD Design. The contrast between colour and black helps to not overcomplicate the image and keep it simple and clean-making it easier for a buyer to instantly recognize the CD. The artwork was most likely done with some method of painting, which gives the blending effect on the Deer.  I think it would be a good idea to consider doing similar artwork for my own digipak design

John Martyn-Solid Air

Mr Big.-Lean Into It

Cover to Dharma Bums book

From this selection i can see that my artist is also fond of surreal art and as such my designs should be able to work well with his own idea's.

Artwork That Inspires Me.

No Artist Found

Assembler-Kosmur

John Baizley-Kvelertak _S-T_ Cover

 

Research into My artist's youth subculture

Artist's clothing

It's quite difficult to stereotype my artist and as such I have decided to include a moodboard of different clothing he wears.

Director Research- David Daniels

DA on Prezi

Director Research- PES

PES Director Research on Prezi

Director Research- Allison Schulnik

My Prezi showing director research for Allison Schulnik

Allison Schulnik Research on Prezi

My Band Profile.

Who Are they ? : Jack William Pout, solo artist.
Genre Music ? : Folk Blues
Where do they play out ? : The Langtry pubs/other pubs. Played at Playfest festival.
Where do they rehearse ? : Jack obviously rehearses at home, however he is currently a student at 'Access to music' in norwich, where he is able to progress and further his musical knowledge and abilities.
As we are close friends i can easily contact him via phone/email/directly.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/jackpout
Facebook: Personal -http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150181493209989&set=a.10150176515084989.363188.772859988&type=3&theater#!/profile.php?id=1033817302
Music -
Bandcamp: jackpout.bandcamp.com/album/and-then <-- Track 6 is the song I am doing for my music video.
Studio recording: yes
Reliable: Jack is relatively reliable however due to the style of music video that is being made, he will not need to be present unless he would like to, however I will be certain to keep in close contact with him to allow us to share idea's and for him to let me know his thoughts and feeling on the music video's progress so that it represents him in a way he is happy with.

A Review of Jack from http://albatrosmusicwells.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/friday-17-june-2011-8-30pm-jack-pout-blues-and-folk/ :
"Young guitarist and singer Jack Pout will bring mostly original material of bluesy folk tonight. Jack’s lyrics are strong and intriguing. Combine them with a quite interesting voice  and you might want to come and listen to the music."

Director Research And Examples

Possible Directors For Research

Allsion Schulnik

Video for "Ready, Able," from Grizzly Bear's 'Veckatimest.' Directed by Allison Schulnik.



This video uses claymation to create a surreal video that transforms alongside the music.

Tobias Stretch
Video for "Weird Fishes" from Radiohead's 'In Rainbows'. Directed by Tobias Stretch



David Daniels
Opening Sequence for 'freaked'



David Daniels invented his own technique known as 'strata-cut' in which the clay in moulded into a loaf which reveals an image with each slice. This technique gives a visually impressive result however for my music video i think the movement of being free would be required to help create the wanted effect.

Bruce Bickford
Claymation scene from 'Baby Snakes'. Mix of claymation and footage from Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween Concert at New York City's Palladium Theatre.


This video mixes claymation and live footage.

xBox Commercial
Directed by Moo Studios.


This video uses claymation and animation also but creates a great effect/

PES
Game Over By PES


PES is more stop-motion based than claymation, however i think the work is still quite inspirational and helps to develop ideas.

Body Painting
Body painting work by Elena Tagliapietra,Photographer Dennison Bertram,Model Pille Riin


This is a stop motion video however i like the idea of body painting with stop motion, to show something 'growing' over the model.