CD cover research

We looked at recent and older cd covers. We particularly liked the Madness one & Sex pistols. Although both are very different we really liked the use of colours and layout of both. For instance the graphic simple details of the sex pistols cover is really effective and to the point. I also really liked the "BLEACH HOUSE" cd cover. It's simple but gives off a really nice "indie vintage" effect. Although i didn't know the band i was drawn into looking into the band because of their cd cover. This is something we must keep in our minds when making our own cd cover.

Modern clothing reflecting SKA style.

During this research myself (Alice), Sam & Adam went to a range of shops looking at clothing which reflects the ska style. When doing the research we realised a lot of the style was quite common. For instance, Fred Perry had a lot of the clothing styles. The black and white checks, hats & smart suits and coats. A lot of the suits we looked at reflected a mod style. In particular very simple black and white ones, with a more decorative shirt.

Interpretation of lyrics

The main theme is working hard and not having fun. From this we created a storyline featuring this. The basic outline is a man has a good job, in an office, but he soon realises it's not worth it. The music video will show his life being same old same old, with different effects. The twist in the video is that the character actually has a rat face. The video will involve performance and narrative.
By Alice Chance

How Will The Visuals of Our Music Video Fit The Lyrics and Music of Our Song?

 Along with the lyrics below, we have added what will be happening at each stage of the song in terms of visuals. We believe that by adding the sequence of visuals to the lyrics we can relate the visuals our music video to the lyrics of the song and show them how they will appear in our final music video. We also hope to lip sync the lyrics of the song with our actors.

(Before the lyrics begin there is a 22.5 second instrumental. During the first 9 seconds of our song, there will be man asleep in bed who get woken by his alarm, the period before the alarm goes off there will be a mid, eye line shot of the individual of which then turns to a close up of the individual wearing a rat mask. The alarm acts as the camera

The next part of the instrumental shows a series of 7 mid shots of the individual getting ready from a side on position. The shot changes to the 'de dum' of the song or the sound of each 'piano note' when the piano note tempo increases the 8^th shot is shown, this is a mid-long shot of the individual walking away from the camera to the door, the last piano note shows visuals of the man closing the door to his house

You're working at your leisure to learn the things you'll need

(during this period in the song the man walks from the front door to his car and opens to the door, the camera tracks the individual, mid to long shot)

The promises you make tomorrow will carry no guarantee (man walking down a street, camera tracks individual from a front-on, mid position, man looking down at floor, then looks to camera and says lyrics 'will carry no guarantee')

I've seen your qualifications, you've got a Ph.D. (long, two person shot of men in suits nodding head and talking, shot changed with lyrics 'you've got a Ph.D' showing man from an aerial shot playing in leaves drunk)

I've got one art O level, it did nothing for me (3^rd person shot of man doing work in house whilst girlfriend tries to communicate to him, he ignores her, when the lyrics 'it did nothing for me' occur girlfriend walks out of house and slams (tracking shot) door, cut to next shot)
Working for the rat race (Man seen at desk from a mid-on shot, stop-start camera use to show work piling up quickly)

You know you're wasting your time (mid shot of tramp outside office, saying the lyrics 'you know you're wasting your time (mid-long shot)

Working for the rat race (Man seen at desk from a mid-on shot, stop-start camera use to show work piling up quickly)

You're no friend of mine (mid shot of tramp outside office, saying the lyrics 'you're no friend of mine' (mid-long shot)
You plan your conversation to impress the college bar (third person shot of two men in suits (one the rat man), long shot from the side of individuals laughing)

Just talking about your Mother and Daddy's Jaguar (close up of rat man putting hand into wallet to reveal a £20 note, mid shot of rat man laughing waving note in friends face)

Wear your political T-shirt and sacred college scarf (close up of rat man's t-shirt showing the conservative party logo (represents the rich), mid-on shot of individual putting on traditional scarf)

Discussing the worlds situation but just for a laugh (rat man walks out and says bye to friend, (mid panning shot of rat man as he moves from bar to exit)
You'll be working for the rat race (Man seen at desk from a mid-on shot, stop-start camera use to show work piling up quickly)

You know you're wasting your time (tramp mimes the lyrics 'you know you're wasting your time from a mid-long on position)

Working for the rat race (close-up of rat man with hands on his face looking down at the floor)

You're no friend of mine (mid-long on shot of tramp miming words 'you're no friend of mine')

During this time there is a long instrumental of 26 seconds, for the first 13 seconds of the instrumental there is a series of 3 shots. The first shot is a side on, long shot of a group of teenagers playing 5 a side, the second shot shows a shot of teenagers again playing 5 a side but from an extreme long shot showing the football pitch length ways, the third shot shows a low angle shot from behind the goal, the ball is seen hitting the 5 a side cage, camera does a fade transition into next series of shots.

3 sec shot of flashback of wife shouting at rat man side on, mid shot

3 second tracking shot (mid) of wife walking away from husband and closes door.

3.5 sec tilt shot showing man rising from chair in office to stand (mid shot)

3.5 sec track shot, mid to long, man walks from desk to door, camera cuts.

Working for the rat race (extreme long shot of 2 men standing each side of the office main doors, man on left say lyrics 'working for the rat race' as the rat man appears and come level with the friends at the door)

You know you're wasting your time (camera continues to track all 3 individuals, this time the man on the right says the lyrics 'you know you're wasting your time' (long shot)

Working for the rat race (man on left says the lyrics 'working for the rat race')

You're no friend of mine (shot from the back of the three individuals, man throws rat head on the floor out of camera shot coverage)

DURING THIS TIME 1.5 SECOND SHOT OF CLOSE-UP OF DRUMS, 1.5 SEC CLOSE UP OF KEYBOARD
Just working at your leisure to learn the things you don't need (side on, long shot of drummer playing, cuts to high angle long shot of rat man singing 'to learn the things you don't need)

The promises you make tomorrow will carry no guarantee (close up of bongos on 'the promises you make tomorrow', long shot of drummer, head on for lyrics 'carry no guarantee')

I've seen your qualifications, you've got a Ph.D. (high angle, of keyboardist playing, cut to high angle, long shot of rat man singing 'you've got a Ph.D')

I've got one art O level, it did nothing for me (close up of bongo, high angle, cut to miming of lyrics 'it did nothing for me)

Working for the rat race (high angle, long shot, man on left mimes lyrics and moves into the microphone, other two men stay still)

BREAK IN BETWEEN LYRICS SHOWS MID-LONG SHOT OF GUITARIST PLAYING FROM HEAD ON

You know you're wasting your time (high angle, long shot, man on right mimes lyrics and moves into the centre near microphone, other men stay still)

BREAK IN BETWEEN LYRICS SHOWS MID-LONG SHOT OF GUITARIST PLAYING FROM HEAD ON

You're working for the rat race (both men on left and right of camera (high angle, long shot) move into centre and mime lyrics)

You're no friend of mine (man in middle mimes lyrics and moves into the microphone)

(shot of drummer, long shot, close up of symbol, camera fades out as drummer continues to hit symbol)

Moodboard 2 analysis TEST SHOTS

Here I have done a photoshoot recreating the 1980s style fitting to the SKA genre. The pictures show  a certain individual style, something we want to use in our music video. Although the film will be mainly men, during the performance we want to use females within the performance. The images i reproduced were similar to the ones used in the first moodboard, especially this is England pictures.
We will use clothing like this during the performance scene. In particular the images of dr martens and checkered shirt. My brother will be playing the main character in the music video. We have chose him because he has an 80s style, in particular his haircut.
By Alice Chance

Moodboard 2

1980s...

In this lesson we have done some research into events that occured in the era that The Specials were most prominent - the 1980s. In this research we found that some of the most famous events included the union strikes, the 1986 World Cup where England were knocked out of the tournament due to Diego Maradona's infamous 'hand of god', and the conservative government, led by controversial Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Here are a few images of those milestones from the 1980s... 

Moodboard 1 analysis

The first Moodboard shows a selection of images of "skinheads" and "mods". The particular subcultures were the types to listen to 2Tone and Ska, such bands as The Specials. A lot of their attitude was anti-politics, borderline anarchist with the same punk feeling. Not only does the moodboard show the style and look of a typical 2tone listener i also think to some extent it shows their attitude and lifestyle, which seems to be very care free and laid back. For instance in This is England, a lot of the time the group of friends are shown having fun, drinking and generally socialising.

Alice

Moodboard 1

Music Videos by The Specials

GANGSTERS
Very stereotypical music video from the band. The low budget, performance aspect are two key features we wish to involve in our music video.The use of black and white is also effective as the two tone colours fir the 2tone music genre. The style in the video is also very useful and a key thing to take into consideration.
By Alice Chance

MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY

This video once again done on a  low budget focuses on the image of the band. The usual image of The Specials is seen, black suits, short trousers and dancing to the beat of the song. Like the majority of The Specials songs, they deal with issues of which are occuring at that current time. There is also close up's of instruments such as the trumpets. Cross-cutting is also used in this video to link narrrative to performance, the lyrics of the song are associated with a situtation.

The Specials (by Alice & Jordan)

The Specials (sometimes called The Special AKA) are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups. The group was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals) and a rhythm section. The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers)." In 1979, the song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached number one in the UK. In 1981, the unemployment-themed single "Ghost Town" single also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart. Their music is featured in film and television soundtracks. After seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, the band broke up.In 2008, it was announced that the band would reform and embark on a 30th anniversary tour in 2009. As of 2010, they are touring America and Europe.

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