Audience Theory: Uses and Gratifications

Hello again,

So, this post is very similar to a post I created last year, however the obvious differences will include our areas of focus as this year we are creating a music video, not a thriller opening.

One very useful audience theory, the Uses & Gratification theory gives us an insight into audience needs which is essential if we want to make an effective music video with meaning. It will allow us to utilise certain aspects of audience needs so we can play on them and use those needs as a sort of mould in which we can place our ideas into. I'll present the theory, highlight & then pick out areas which Alex and I think will be key to accessing higher marks and creating a good music video.

Information

• Finding out about relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world
• Seeking advice on practical matters of opinion and decision choices
• Satisfying curiosity and general interest
• learning; self-education
• gaining a sense of security through knowledge

Personal Identity

• Finding reinforcement for personal values
• Finding models of behaviour
• Identifying with valued other (in the media)
• Gaining insight into one's self

Integration & Social Interaction

• Gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy
• Identifying with others and gaining an sense of belonging
• Finding a basis for conversation and social interaction
• Having a substitute for real-life companionship
• Helping to carry out social roles
• Enabling one to connect with family, friends and society

Entertainment

• Escaping, or being diverted, from problems; relaxing
• Getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment filling time
• Emotional release
• Sexual arousal

In terms of information, several areas have been highlighted for a reason; the main theme of our music video is that life will present you with struggles, that aren't necessarily life-changing, but they're still struggles and everyone goes through them. Our characters will be put through situations that most audience members in our targeted audience (can relate to. This also links to social interaction as they feel they can identify with others. But in terms of underlying message, it's that you can still be happy and enjoy life, no matter how bad things get. The lyrical link will be evident with the mise-en-scene heavily as the lyrics will be re-created visually.


Although personal identity only has one section highlighted, it could really have all sections highlighted as the focus is around people and their problems. As we're trying to inspire other people to not lose hope and keep pushing through whatever problem they might be facing, our video of course tries to help give insight into the audience's self.


The same can be said for integration, some people might view our video with no option to relate at all, but they may be able to be empathetic towards other audience members or realise what other people go through. Just as a reminder; we're trying to expose problems to the audience that they might be going through or might not be, but with the outcome being happy - that those people or the audience, can get through it. Be positive!


And finally, of course we want to entertain the audience, that's our band's style; to have fun. We'll inject some light hearted comedy within the video to keep things interesting and not completely upset or bore the audience.

Album Ideas and Update

Hey again,


Alex and I have been discussing ideas for an album, including shots to use for the covers, as well as names we can use for actual songs as well as the album. In terms of pictures, Alex mocked up some sketches that we could use for our website or our album, we're still deciding upon that. But here they are:


The top image we've discussed as being our main image for the website, which I described in a previous blog post - as we took inspiration from Pet Shop Boys to adopt a similar style. In terms of recognising our audience, we've tried to create a more modern, geeky twist to music to relate to a new genre/group of music lovers - as we've realised a certain gap in cool, geeky but modern artists. In today's market artists are quite serious, pop artists that are more of a brand than an song writer. Such as Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.


As for progress, currently Alex and I are using Wix.com to create a website, we're also still in stages of shot lists, logo/album designing and other small tasks. Within the next week or so we hope to have completed designing our website, and personally I hope to have completed all audience tasks and at least finish Institution and start Academic Theories.


Alex has also been working tirelessly at home to create designs we've discussed when planning album covers. As our band name is 'Apollo AD' we thought about naming our first album 'Lift Off' to signify our blast into the music-sphere. The pictures will be posted as soon as I save them and upload them.

VEVO - Case Study

Hello people of Earth,

As I've been behind this month, I've done a short case study on a rather large and successful music-industry based company. Over the years, VEVO has grown to adopt a global stance in the music industry, providing music videos and other forms of entertainment on the internet, whilst recently expanding onto the television.




Vevo is available in Australia, Russia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The website was scheduled to go worldwide in 2010, but as of January 1, 2016, it was still not available outside these countries.Vevo's official blog cited licensing issues for the delay in the worldwide rollout. Most of Vevo's videos on YouTube are viewable by users in other countries, while others will produce the message "The uploader has not made this video available in your country." The Vevo service in the United Kingdom and Ireland was launched on April 26, 2011

Website Planning

Hello!

Apologise for the lack of posting, I shall use this week to bump up the count. During the last two weeks Alex and I have been planning our website layouts as well as background designs for the site. Logo designing and we're also in the beginning stages of shot lists/storyboarding as well as location scouting. In terms of practice, we've been looking at tutorials explinaing how to edit at a professional level on Photoshop. Here's one of my favourites:



Currently our designs (screen grabs will be posted) consist of very geeky, modern style photographs for the background of our website. The homepage consisting of the two of us, dressed as mad scientists with explosion ruminants on our faces. We've based it around the Pet-Shop boys style:

Specifically this picture highlights the aspect we are trying to replicate; the artist duo with a plain white background, although we wish to develop this style further by having a close-up of our faces with a different style of mise-en-scene - we'd like it to be more geeky and science-like.

More ideas for logos aswell as guidance with editing for photographs will be edited onto this post.

 

Pitch Video

Hey!

So after finally pitching our ideas to a 'producer' (our teacher) we edited and uploaded the video. Throughout the meeting we had to explain our ideas, referring to our audience constantly and giving reasons as to why we wish to create a music video based on the song 'One Little Slip'.

The main theme we're going with is that in life we all make mistakes. Massively bad events don't have to happen in order for us to feel a little blue. With the video, we'll show that the little things in life don't get us down and we can get through things, big or small!

Anyway here's the pitch, take a look.