Project Components

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T1abshDa4-XcZt2drkjfQVKn8nfVnwu-?usp=sharing

Critical Reflection

The totally rockin’ music video for Jaggn's new single "Top This" speaks to many different social groups and issues through its visual components and themes. “Top This'' represents values that include: creativity, individuality, and expression. The band's aesthetic and the products I created exhibit these values. They are especially demonstrated through the use of unconventional imagery and props within the music video, the unique design of the vinyl record digipak, and the indie/rock and roll vibe of the social media page.

One form of representation in this project is the challenge of gender standards, as all band members are seen wearing red lipstick all through the video. This challenges the routine idea that makeup is only to be used by women, and promotes self-expression and individuality regardless of gender. This representation is especially significant to young people, who may be exploring their own identities and battling with societal expectations. The use of red lipstick throughout the video could also be seen as part of branding, speaking to the band's boldness, confidence, and refusal to comply with conventional gender norms. The band's choice to challenge gender norms by wearing red lipstick also engages with the audience by promoting inclusivity. This could resonate with struggling teenagers who may be battling with their own identities and truly figuring themselves out.

The components of the production, counting the choice of location, props, and outfits, all work together to create a sense of branding for Jaggn. The use of an abandoned parking lot and tires, and the saturated blue tarp backdrop within the video makes a grungy, defiant aesthetic. This aligns with the rock and roll genre of the band's music. The video's style and props, such as the red lipstick, rubber ducks, and chattering teeth, are unusual and peculiar, representing the band's personality as an alternative rock group. The video moreover shows a playful attitude, which is regularly associated with youth culture. The band's Instagram page is exceptionally representative of Jaggn's brand. It gives that same rock vibe given in the music video.

The way in which the music video engages with the audience is through its visual components, themes, and overall tone. The grungy, rebellious aesthetic of the video, combined with the playful and quirky elements, makes an engaging and memorable experience for watchers. The band's use of unconventional props adds an element of shock and interest, keeping the audience engaged and captivated. The video's unusual components convey a feeling of enjoyment and playfulness, making it appealing to a younger audience. This lightness is also visible in the design of the vinyl record digipak, which incorporates vibrant images that complement the video's look. The social media page also allows Jaggn's audience to engage with the band. The utilization of promoting a live show on instagram, makes it so audiences can feel like they are truly a part of the release of “Top This”. The page also highlights a day by day countdown for when the music video will come out to increase anticipation for fans. By promoting live concerts, countdowns, and behind-the-scenes content, the social media page interacts with its audience in a way that encourages inclusion and a feeling of unity. The usage of social media by the band as a promotional tool emphasizes the significance of technology in contemporary music marketing and its ability to reach a larger audience.

Research played a critical part in making the production of Jaggn's music video and the way it challenges conventions. I conducted research on other music videos, especially within the rock and roll genre, to assemble inspiration and ideas for my own video. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Can't Stop" music video is evidence of this research being that the “Top This” video is heavily inspired from that video. This can be seen specifically in the bright colors and complete absurdity that are present in both videos. The band's reference to the "Can't Stop" music video by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the “Top This” video might also engage with fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and fans of similar rock groups, because it creates a sense of recognition and familiarity. This has the potential to also attract new listeners who are fans of other bands, and are interested in similar music and aesthetics. I also (as previously stated) conducted research on gender norms and societal expectations, particularly related to makeup and self-expression. This research shaped my decision to have the band wear red lipstick in the video, challenging conventional gender standards and promoting inclusivity and acceptance.

In conclusion, my multimedia project for Jaggn's new single “Top This” speaks to a social group that values inventiveness, individuality, and expression. The use of unusual props and scenes in the music video, the campy design of the vinyl record digipak, and the indie/rock and roll vibe of the social media page all work to form a sense of branding for the band and engage with the audience. "Top This" is an excellent example of how music can encourage self-expression, inclusiveness, and social awareness. The band's dedication to social responsibility and artistic expression is shown by the project's attention to detail, which ranges from the unorthodox props used in the music video to the funky design of the vinyl record packaging. Future bands can use this effort as a model for how to produce and promote music videos in the time ahead. It is my hope that upcoming bands challenge convention and rock out just as hard as Jaggn.

YOU CAME, YOU SAW, BUT YOU CAN NEVER TOP THIS!

 My whole project is complete! 

Editing on I-movie was actually way smoother than I remember it being for my last full-length project. It felt very comfortable for be being that I have used it now a couple times. I ran into little to no problems whatsoever while editing this project and overall wasn't too bad!

I honestly had such a great time doing this whole project. Everything from the digipack to the social media page, mostly everything came out how I had envisioned it. I think one of the only things that would have improved my project is having the video be more promotional. At times it kind of just feels like the band is just doing random things. This is exactly what I was going for, but I should have shot some more shots of Connor singing. 

I think that the randomness and absurdity of this video is GREAT. I mean who would ever think of getting in a fistfight with scooby doo dressed as a wizard!? It is so great and I smile every time I watch it. 

Thank you for coming along with me on this journey! I can't wait for you guys to see the finished product :)

The start of editing.

 Editing is not really my strong suit, so I wanna dedicate a lot of time to do so. So far I have started to cut down all of my usable footage and delete the rest. This took a VERY long time, but will really benefit me when editing later.

I have also decided to edit the color on all of my shots to keep up with the saturated marketing and art for this record. 

I am using I-movie to edit, and will most likely be editing on my phone. It's maybe not the BEST way to go about editing, but it is what I am most comfortable with. Especially with the deadline approaching, I do not want any mishaps. 

JAGGN LIVE PERFORMANCE

 Jaggn had a live performance yesterday, and it was AMAZING. Even better, it was a great opportunity for the band to play top this live, and the audience loved it. I took numerous pictures and videos and dedicated a whole Instagram post to the concert.

Special guest appearance: Skyler Rivera

The post was titled "GET JAGGED" which is a phrase the band often says.

After this post I made a post for the release date, along with the album cover for Top This. 

Finally, I added 2 highlights on the page for the concert, as well as just for the top this video itself.

DIGIPACK COMPLETE

 The digipack for Top This is complete! As said previously, this would be released as a single on a 45rpm vinyl.

Click photo to enlarge

I wanted this single's digipack to be super loud and colorful, while also providing a rock n' roll aesthetic. The music video's rubber ducks and chattering teeth are components, so I wanted to make them very apparent in the album art. 

I decided to add a rubber duck "rubber" for the insert. I think adding this condom for the insert is very on-brand for Jaggn. As the saying goes "sex, drugs, and rock n roll", this condom is really representative of rock n roll and its culture. 

Overall, I love how the digipack turned out, and I cannot wait for this projects final result.

INSTA POSTS

 For my first Instagram post, I posted some album art teasing the new song. I captioned it "COME AND SEE YOU WILL NEVA TOP THIS. coming soon."

I also posted some stills of the duck shots from the video itself. I captioned it "GET DUCKING READY"

The band also has an upcoming live performance which I have also decided to advertise on my page. They are playing the song in the music video at the show which is a great selling point for people to come and hear it before the song comes out. I posted this on my insta story.