Digipak- Jay-z and linkin park collision course

Collision course is a cd/dvd digipak released by rap legend jay-z and rock giants Linkin park. Released on november 30th 2004, the album was classed as an EP due to the short length of the CD; being only 21:18 minutes and 6 tracks long. The album sold 1,934,000 just in America and over 5 million worldwide.

The DVD in the digipak contained behind the scenes footage of jay-z and the band and 5 scenes from a live preformance.

Band member Mike Shinoda revealed in his 2004 acceptance speech at the grammy's that he would be working with Jay-Z for a project under MTV's Mash Ups show. MTV allowed Jay-Z to choose a group or artist for the mash-up to make the show with. Jay contacted the group, who began experimenting with mixing the tracks before sending some examples to him. As a result, Jay-Z began working personally with Shinoda by email. The two decided that instead of combining the existing tracks for the live performance on MTV, they wanted to re-work and re-record parts of the songs to make them fit better. Shinoda asked his bandmates to re-record instrumental and vocal tracks, whilst jay-z rerecorded lyrics so they worked better with the new tracks; ultimately both parties decided they wanted to release the studio tracks.

As the both music acts involved in the project are both household names there was no real massive ad campaign for the album. It has been known as a bit off a side project for both parties involved, but jay-z and the band both done interviews (especially for MTV) and let their fans know about the project.

The album's cover is typically Linkin Park, very grundgy and gritty using dark basic colours. Despite this the cover definatly has elements of the hip hop culture in featuring images of boom boxes and spraypaint effect visuals.

Locations, props and costumes

Locations-Recording Studio/Booth, Suffolk New College – This location will be used for a majority of the bands performance throughout the music video “Let the sun shine”The Learning Curve, Suffolk New College – 2nd scene that serves to the narrative where the main character is descending into darkness and his existence is fading. Google’s himself 0 results.College grounds, Suffolk New College – Important scene where the character sees his new love interest and the mood of the narrative becomes brighter and the stylistics change featuring more colours.Recording Studio/Booth, Suffolk New College – Flashback sequence of main characters dismissal from Distraction.Random Locations around SNC – These small 20-sec clips will brighten the mood continuously and will eventually blossom the relationship between the two main characters.Large music room, Suffolk New College – Final scene, boosted performance from Distraction featuring the same song, only a different setting. Closing sequence for relationship that has finally bloomed and is strong, Distraction is performing better and the main character does not need them anymore.

Props-Instruments mainly associated with the rock genre and featured in the song. Guitar/Bass, Drums/Symbol, Microphone etc.(Optional) Alcohol bottle, Lit cigarette in order to emphasise the depression the main character is encountering in early scenes.Windows PC, Keyboard used when the main character Google’s himself which will serve as a symbolic feature showing the fading of his existence.

Costumes-Black denim, Black jackets at the start to emphasise the dark mood and current state of the main character. (worn by the band, main character but different style)White T-shirts in order to represent the change of mood for the narrative. (worn by the band)(Optional) Red Jacket, Dress this will be used to create unique effects with Final Cut Pro be a reference to Sin City etc. (worn by the female main character)Casual Bright Clothes another change of style to go with the newly established lighter mood featured in the music video. (worn by both main characters) (list compiled by George D.L)

Storyboards

This my groups original set of storyboards, detailing the performance section and also the narrative. As you can probably tell from the images above we decided to differ from our story board using better and/or more feasible ideas where possible/needed.

Audience profile: female

Female
· Slightly older teenager
· “Girly girl”
· Interested in pop and r’n’b
· Liked bands and musicians include; the wanted, JLS, Taio Cruz, N-Dubz and Michael Buble.
· Hobbies include things like; socializing with friends, reading celeb magazines, cinema and shopping.
· Works in retail or hairdressing.

Audience profile: male

Male
· A younger teenage boy 13-15
· Skater boy
· Interested in pop and soft rock
· Liked bands and musicians; Mcfly, sum41, blink 182, the wanted, example and Ed Sheeran.
· Hobbies include; skating, football, gaming, films and listening to musicWorks as a paper boy or waiter.

Ideas for CD cover

Front image:

Back image:

I wanted to use a solar eclipse on the cover of the album including the bands logo, I chose this because it is such a strong powerful image; it also signifies something special but also powerful.

For the rear image I wanted to use a picture of one of the band making it look like he has the sun in his hands. I think this would show the band as powerful, and making the band member in the photo look especially important.

2nd Idea

Front:

Back:

For my second idea, I decided that I wanted to use more of the band on the cover, using an image of them running to make them look a bit more fun, its also a more eye catching option.

On the back of the CD cover I wanted to continue on the theme from the front of the CD, I liked the idea of them coming out the other side of the tunnel. I think this imagery signifies them getting through there struggle to make it and their trials and tribulations being over.

Video effect test

In our video, for the performance sections we decided we wanted to use the pleasentville effect; an effect which removes the colour from a video apart from a selected colour, for example the effect used in Schindler's list. we done a couple of test shoots to test out the effect before using it on our project. The 1st test is above.

This was the second test we filmed using the pleasentville effect, as you can see in the video the effect didn't go as planned.