DigiPak Ideas: Contents and Features

Whilst Josh (Chief Editor) has been editing and finalising the Music Video which we have created (Pop Promo Edit 2), and Emily has been creating and designing the CD Covers for the DigiPak, I have made an Outtakes video (Pop Promo Outtakes), scanned the Storyboards (Storyboards) and then compiled Storyboard images into an Animatic (Animatic). I have yet to compile all the test footage that we captured and post that video on this Blog (which I shall aim to do tomorrow).

Following a class discussion, I had a few ideas about what our DigiPak should contain. As a class we agreed the DigiPak/CD Covers should contain:

• Band, Song and Record Label logos
• Titles - Band, song/album name
• Track listing
• Copyright Protection logos and information (©, ®, ™)
• Barcode & Price
• DVD details - age certification or 'Parental Advisory: Explicit Content' label
• Pictures - front, back, middle (inside and outside)
• 4-Sided with 2 Spines- 2 pics outside (front/back covers), possibly 2 inside
• 6-Sided with 3 Spines- 3 pics outside (front, middle, back covers), 2 inside, with Production pics or a "Production & Artwork" booklet
• Collector items
• Competition entry forms
• Limited Edition - 'Exclusive DVD included', 'Bonus tracks', or 'uncut version'.

Then, as a class, we also discussed the Contents and Features to be included on the DVD in the DigiPak, depending on whether we had a DVD in the DigiPak or not. We agreed the DVD should showcase the artist. Below is the set layout for a 4-Sided DigiPak:

After the class discussion, I had a few of my own ideas. I thought the DVD itself should contain an interactive DVD menu, which could be on the CD and be one of those discs where you play the music in a CD Player but use it as a DVD in a DVD Player or Computer. Or, the DVD could be a separate disc from the CD, maybe forcing us into designing a 6-Sided DigiPak, and the DVD when inserted into a DVD Player comes up with the Interactive menu where viewers select an option from a list (Play All, Pop Promo, Special Features).

In terms of Special Features, I thought maybe adding the Storyboards to be viewed individually or as a Slideshow, and a few "making of" videos, such as:

• test footage
• animatic (could be incorporated into the 'Storyboards' menu option in the 'Special Features' menu)
• outtakes and bloopers
• video documentary or interviews
• music video (pop promo) itself.

I will look into creating a proper, working DVD disc with the iMacs, as I have seen an instruction booklet in our Editing Suite referring to how to make a fully operational DVD. The one question I want answered is 'Will I be able to create a fully operational, interactive DVD menu?'