Evaluation: Question 2 - How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts(DVD digipak, Magazine Advert?)

Producing media texts of different formats to work in relation to each other is common practice in the media world. Promotion is a key element of any media production as it makes the audience aware of the text you are or have created. In our case we had to produce both a magazine advert and digipak to correspond with and promote our Music Video. In regards to the relationship between the three it was important to create some form of continuity to allow the texts to coincide. Me and Shelley in the production of our music video became aware that themes and messages within the audio piece we had selected were incredibly important and powerful and decided, in order to allow this to be fully conveyed to the audience we would not detract from the lyrics by producing literal referencing that would overwhelmed the sentiment of the piece. Instead we produced a montage of imagery of which allot referred, not to the lyrics, but what inspired them. this concept could be considered post modern as the video could be considered as a product of the song looking in on itself, like a simulacra, you are not seeing what is there lyrically but a representation of what it was prior to lyrical interpretation.

As a concept, visually in terms of promotion it is hard to convey and so in the construction of our magazine advert and digipak, Shelley and i chose to convey an image, rather than a concept. The image of Shelley featured on both the digipak cover, CD print and the advert develops continuity which intern has been pushed further via the creation of a border using the same image. The constant reworking of the image in a sense forms that simulacrum, a constant reinterpretation forming a further link with the video. Although this is quite a complex link, when combined with other more obvious visual and themed links, it creates a very powerful bond of imagery that opens the audience up to the concept of the music video. For example; the use of half dead flowers in the image used creates a lyrical link to ‘love of death’ as well as the nostalgic theme of the video and song. Also by using the same model for the promotional image as the actress featured in the music video (Shelley) we have been able to create a very simple but effective visual link.

The digipak explores a few more obvious links such as the quoted lyrics form the song printed onto the inside panel. However the digipak creates a stronger link to the music promotion video than the magazine advert as it links in imagery used in the montage of the video. A silhouetted rollercoaster is printed onto the interior panel extending out from the already discussed pattern, connecting and contrasting with the inactive desolate theme park featured. Furthermore the digipak contains the largest visual link to the music video with the inclusion of photograph of Shelley stood amongst the red berry bush featured in the video. Not only does the use of areal Polaroid film create that nostalgic feel, but it also further endorses the idea of reinterpretation as a photograph is a prime example of a simulacrum.

It is because of the intensive concentration of links between all three texts that we believe their combination is quite effective. They intertwine on many different levels that promote not only the lyrics and images from the music video but also the concept.

in order to judge the success of my ancillary tasks in relation to my music video i set up a wall wisher account and created a page on which people can add comments talking about my work. the feedback was quite positive with people recognising the and liking the visual links, 'i like the black and white theme and the way that only a little color is used to break it up.' (sarah) however there were some less successful feedback with georgia calling the theme 'bland'.
overall i believe that my ancillary tasks work very well with my music promotion video, something that has been confirmed by the feedback acquired through 'wall wisher' and maintains a professional persona.