Initial Ideas

First idea - Favoured 
For this video I want it to be to the song 'Quand Vas Tu Rentrer' by Melody's Echo Chamber. The video will be mainly performance, however focusing more on the visual effects of the video. I would like the video to have two frames overlapping directly so that one frame makes a boarder for the square frame in the middle. The middle frame will include the performance and narrative aspect, this performance will be basic and more serious to fit along with the song thus be limited to lip-syncing. The narrative I wish for it to follow will also be basic following the meaning of the lyrics. The lyrics are:

Is it that I see

From my room

Lasse

If you fall asleep

Curling up

Breaking

You Erase

When will you return?

(I'm cold)

Is it that I hear

From my room

Lasse

The streetlights

Your drunkenness

Passes

When will you return?

When will you return?

Do you see it

Our love

Passing

Are you writing there

You will not read

Never

Traces

When will you change?

When will you return?

This has been translated from French in which the song is originally sang in. The word Lasse can also be either a name or meaning tired. From this a story line can form where a women is losing a love and wondering when they will return and if they'll change. This can be acted through a women actively searching for someone or passively looking out for them or possibly both, these shots I hope to shoot in unique lighting consisting of a range of colors perhaps responding to the mood of the song. For example for the verse "when will you return? (I'm cold)...The streetlights Your drunkenness Passes" I would film the women in  dusk in a blue hue to reflect the lyrics.

In the outer frame I would like to include more visual shots of nature and buildings these may have symbolic meaning associated with the lyrics or may just be associated with her surroundings. These could include shots of birds flying, rivers, telephone wires, leaves falling etc these would also be edited to the beat of the song. 

For some times in the chorus or verse in the song I would want the two frames to shift in size or the shots to correspond with each other but at slightly separate times and form back to the original layout when the song returns to how it was also.

Second idea
This idea will be to the song Tears by Mr Jukes, this is prominently a song about love therefore in the performance I will include a couple, the same age as the average audience so around early twenties. In this the couple will be filmed separately then be seen to find each other. After this shots of them doing certain activities like cycling and exploring would be shown. It would end with a shot of them together fading out. The style would be dreamy and shot mainly at day time.



Third idea
For my second idea I would like it to be to the song 'Rain' by Jonti. 
These are the lyrics:
The lights go out when I say it's time
Look in my eyes you'll see a warriors mind
But on my face you'll see a childlike smile
Because my god and I have been talking awhile
[Chorus]
And without fear
And with love
The nights crystal clear
[Verse 2]
I'm sorry for this bitter blood
I'm sorry for these things I've done
What good could I do
If I ain't bringing love to you
[Chorus]
And without fear
And with love
The night is crystal clear

The video would start with a shot of leaves in a city swaying to the sound of the initial piano, as the leaves fall the camera follows it to the actor -male, probably late teens- as the song progresses lip-syncing is shown as the guy walks rhythmically to the beat of the song using skips etc, pass peoples faces and shops -a vast range of people will be shown. Camera follows actors as he weaves through the city. When the song reaches the verse 'the nights crystal clear' the shots will be edited on the beat of each 'clear' being repeated, these shots will include things such as trees, open windows, phone wires, birds. In the slower parts of the song the we see the actor in a quieter area - crossing a bridge etc...towards the end it would still follow him around the city and the last shot where the song returns to the piano the shots will return to the leaves. The video will start at dusk and end at night.

Progress and Feedback

Target Grade 

My target grade for this year is A, to achieve this I need to ensure that I throughly go into detail with my points and not make general statements. I should also be using more specialist terminology and have excellent understanding covering all areas of music video knowledge applied when writing about them.

Group Project music video
In regards to the group project work, I need to ensure I write about what I thought worked and didn't work, what went well and my thoughts on how the final music video looks in relation to the time it took to achieve it. I aim to write this and expand on the post by the end of the school week.


Music Video Analysis 1

Responding to feedback given on my music video analyses 1 I need to ensure I expand on shot types and include the effect they have on the video.

Music Video Analysis 2

I need to include more technical look at the camera shots used, and mention the term rotoscoping to explain the drawing over the video.

Music Video Analysis 4

I need to ensure I include shot types and when and how these are used to create effect

Music Video Analysis 5

Remember to include specific shot types.

I need to continue to highlight terminology in pink.

I will expand and edit some of my music videos by the end of this lesson and others by the end of the school week.

Influences Post
My post on influences needs to be more in-depth and highlight particular interests in what I want my video to include.

Media Conventions 
I need to explain what the video was. I also plan to do this by the end of the lesson. 

Influences

Through researching music videos I found a company called Astro Nautico that released videos through their name for an artist I like. These videos differ in style but I find influence in all of them. The following couple of videos are not in my preferred style however I still like the ideas.

Inharmonious Slog 

I can find influences in this video through the concept of the purposeful lighting changing with the beat and to the beat and having it include an actress.

These Fruits, These Vegetables

I like the playfulness of this video, although not the style I wish to make my videos in I appreciate the concept and would look to have a more playful aspect to videos even with a more serious song.

My main influences come from these following videos, these were shot and edited by people named Andrea Ngan and Kimberly Gim. I am most interested by this style of video as I appreciate the visual affects. I would like my music video to have similar themes. From Illusion of Seclusion I want to use the frame within a frame style for my own video featuring different shots in each, possibly occasionally taking over one another to reveal one frame for a moment or so. From Static at the Summit I can take influence from the simplistic style and could try experimenting with colours used by changing them around or inverting them.

Illusion of Seclusion

Static at the Summit

Andrew Goodwin Theory

This is my video explaining Andrew Goodwin's theory about music videos with examples from popular videos.

Music video evaluation 5

Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

• For parts of the video the singer is playing a character acting a part, however for the majority of the video she is performing as her self on stage.
• For those performance sections there are no correlations between the lyrics and what is being shown.
• For the sections where she is playing a character, the scenes reflect the meaning in the song, for example the beginning of the video starts with the singer stating the first line while looking at photos, this refers to the fact the lyrics talk about growing older and looking back.
• There is also a point in which the singer looks on to a man who then disappears, this relates to the lyrics and the reference of her uncle dying. 

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:

• The genre of Edge of seventeen is classed as rock, signifiers of this can be seen through the various instruments including the guitars.
• The costumes may also come under this.

INTERTEXTUALITY?:

• Many of the lyrics give reference to wider culture, such as the death of John Lennon, however this is not fully translated to the video

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT?:

• The video follows a narrative as it is spilt between themes/styles and some show a story.
• A large aspect of the video follows a performance this is fairly basic but shows the set up of the instruments and mic etc.
• Concept is not particular to the video 

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

• There is a large aspect of performance in this video with the band playing for a large section of time.
• lip syncing can be seen through this performance in the performance aspects.
• verisimilitude is achieved as the set up looks live for the performance
• The shots are not very varied through the video however they do change when the song changes
• The most used shots include medium long shots and medium shots, this allows the audience to focus on the singer and the lyrics being sang

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS:

• Throughout the video there are aspects of looking as the singer looks directly into the camera for the majority of shots
•  At the beginning, the acting concept section of the video transfers to the performance section by the camera zooming in and focuses of a framed shot of the singer performing, the effect used merges the two scenes as if this performance is happening within the frame.

STAR TREATMENT:

• As the lead singer is separate and not fully part of a band she is singled out ensuring the viewer sees her as the star.
• She also acts in the more dramatic sequences, keeping her as the focus.
• Close up shots also show this along with the editing always cutting back to her.

MALE GAZE?:

• Although this video features a women, she is presented as strong and more as a leader than being sexually objectified as she is the artist.
• The clothing used also does not support her being overly sexualised, even though the costume is dramatic.

LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE:

• The video does not give the audience written information on the screen however the acting sequences do give information, which was important for anchorage
• Different locations have been used even within the acting sequences which keeps the audience interested
• The props and costume fit in with the genre, this can be seen through the various outfits in which the singer wears.

 SHOTS/FRAMING:

• Although this video was filmed in the early 1980s so that the cinematography and quality is not impressive, the symbolism in some shots is notable, such as the shot of the singer dropping a doll whilst being shaken by a figure relating to either her uncle or John Lennon, this shows her having to mature.
• A notable shot would also be the transition to the performance as a shot of her performing is shown in the frame.
• In the performance scenes the shot types used are either medium long shots or medium close ups, this allows the audience to focus on the featured performance and begin to understand the link between them and the lyrics.

Music video evaluation 4

Destiny's Child - Cater 2 U

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

• The lyrics in Destiny's Child Cater 2 U feature each band member explaining how they'd cater to 'you' - through the presence of male models used the audience makes the connection that they are referring to them.
• The video is a pure performance video, there is not a direct connection, some dance moves could suggest word from the lyrics but not directly.

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT?:

• This music video is a performance video, it included the band lip syncing, modelling, and dancing.
• There is not a narrative that it follows nor do the band fully perform with mics etc.

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

• The performance style is dramatic and has themes of modelling and acting along with a specific dance routine.
• lip syncing is shown throughout showing the singers being portrayed as themselves
• The choreography is specific and typical to the contemporary R&B genre in which the song falls under, the moves are not too complex and could be repeated at home however are still made to look professional. 
• The angles used are not limited, showing the full surroundings through different shot types and angles.
• Many of the shot types are long shots and extreme long shots this shows the audience the surrounds showing off the lavish car and unique swimming pool this links with it being from the contempt R&B genre.

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS: 

• The costume can be seen to support the genre with the use of minimal clothing and large heels and accessories
• the props used also show the genre in the use of the swimming pool and expensive car. These are used as genre characterises for contempt R&B.

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS:

• Throughout the video there are references to looking as each singer stares into the camera lens when they are sing and model, solo or not. This ensures the viewers attention and builds a relationship with the audience, creating a direct mode of address.

STAR TREATMENT:

• The lead singer of the group is continually singled out with longer shots of her lip syncing
• These shots are varied and often long shots or close ups which gives more detail to the 'star'.
• Beyonce is being made into the star in the majority of the video.
• She is also placed at the centre of the dance routines making her the focus. 

REPRESENTATIONS: 

• Gender is represented quite separately as the men are looking onto the women in a preying like manner while they sing about serving them, this could be seen as unequal.
• A variety of age is not represented through the video as all the participants are of a similar age.
• Sexuality is represented in a heterosexual way not displaying diversity as the women and men involved seem to be attracted to one another.
• The same or similar ethnicities are also very prominent in the video, this reflects the R&B genre.

 MALE GAZE?: 

• Throughout this video the singers are very sexualised with many shots of legs and cleavage etc, however they are not portrayed as objects and less important than the men as the main feature is on them, they are performing and acting the song.
• This being said the men featured in the video are strongly gazing at them suggesting that they are being sexually objectified.

 PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE: 

• The pace of the shots varies with the pace of the song, with the verses and the slightly slower sections the shots don't change as often.
• As the chorus progresses the shots change faster.
• However in the section that may be classed as rapping the shots do not change in pace from before or during the section.
• There is also a pattern in editing during the chorus and after each singer had their solo, this pattern includes showing the women in the black dresses in formation then cutting back to the previous scene featuring each subsequent member and returning back to the black dress dance sequence.

SHOT VARIETY + NO. OF SETUPS:

• The video is set in one main location - the desert - however each solo section is filmed in a separate part of the desert, this gives variety.
• There are a range of shots which are appropriate for the section of the song, for example in parts of the song with all three singers only shot types in which all can be seen are used such as medium long shots.
• Shots used vary from long shots to medium close ups which can be seen throughout.
• One section is also filmed at night giving the video variety.
• The camera movements are smooth and consistent displaying the actresses. 

LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE: 

• As this video was filmed in a desert it implies intertextuality as it relates to Hollywood and blockbusters
• The lighting and colours also suggest this with the orange and teal.
• The costumes fit in with the genre and the romanticism of the set.

Music video evaluation 3

Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:
The singer is delivering the words herself in the throughout the video showing performance throughout. Some of the words she is singing are being acted out enthusiastically however not directly for example she indicates to her own hair when singing "that's the girls on the block with the nasty curls". At some points the lyrics are also shown directly in the video as the main words flash on to the screen.

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:
This song buffalo stance is in the hip hop, dance-pop genre, subsequently the music video reflects this by displaying a DJ as its main source of music along with the background style and colours, the costume can also be seen to signify the genre.

INTERTEXTUALITY?:
Buffalo stance -the main lyrics in the chorus, reference the group of photographers, models, musicians, hair and makeup artists, etc. formed by fashion stylist Ray Petri in which Neneh Cherry was part of. The stance aspect is also shown through a dance move which can be seen in the video. It also references the song Buffalo Gals in which Buffalo Stance sampled from.

PERFORMANCE STYLE:
Although the location is small as it is filmed in a studio the way the shots are presented in the video are varied and show the age of when the video was made. The close ups of the singers face in the foreground while the background changes and mirrors the shot shows that they used the full potential of the studio setting, they also use a lot zoom which again shows the style. Throughout the video the singer is performing the song in a way in which portrays her as a face for the song without having her truly perform with a plugged in mic etc. The singers performance is vivacious which draws in the audience, there are also characters as background dancers, this dancing is simple but typical for the genre.

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS:
For the majority of the shots the singer is looking directly into the camera lens which is a direct mode of address. This translates intensity and creates a connection with the audience, by doing this the viewer is drawn in and continues to watch. 


STAR TREATMENT: 
In every shot the singer is featured throughout the video. She is singled out and the camera focuses in her this is seen in the editing especially in the shots where there are others shown it can be seen that she is at the forefront. This indicated to the audience that she is the 'star'.

REPRESENTATIONS: 
There is a large representation of ethnically diverse people, although there are not many people shown in the video they are all of the same ethnicity, they are being represented in a positive light as the stars of the video. There is a split between male and female with the DJ being male, lead singer female and background characters both, with a woman as the main singer and 'star' this helps represents them in a positive light. There is not much representation of other groups such as disability however this may be due to the small amount of people featured.


LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE:

The location in this video is limited as it is filmed in a studio, this ensures that verisimilitude is not reached however this did not affect the anchorage as hints in the background and props include information about the lyrics and song such as the DJ and lyrics in the background. The mise-en-scene fits with the genre the costumes reflect that of the late 80s and hip hop props can be seen through the dollar medallion and large earrings. The colour is a main feature in the video, the bright 'thermal imagery' colours really add vibrance and gives indication to the style and year.

NOTABLE SHOTS/FRAMING:
The majority of the shots are very busy and include a lot of colour and images, the framing of the shot varies between close ups of the singer and medium shots, this keeps the video upbeat. One of the more noticeable shots includes a coloured background with the song name, a tinted close up as the mid ground and a repeated close up shot in the foreground, this too draws the viewer in.

MALE GAZE?: 
Although this could be a video in which the singer would be over sexualised, this video does not fully relate to this as the lead singer is not shown through shots of her legs or cleavage, instead the audience is captivated with colour, varying shots and enthusiastic actions.

Music video evaluation 2

Bombay Bicycle Club- Carry Me

 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:
The main relationship between the visuals and the lyrics starts with the main singer delivering the words along with some other band members in a section in which each band member is shown after the lead singer in a jump cut making it difficult for the audience to see which is which. The lyrics are also represented through the performance aspect of the video in which two dancers are featured throughout, for example the image of the animated hands being edited in could be interpreted as the hands carrying or beginning to carry the  dancer in the video.

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT:

Carry me's music video is largely a performance video with aspects of narrative and concept. This is depicted through the band playing along to the music and mouthing in sync to the lyrics, the aspect of concept comes from the dancers that are cut in and out throughout the video, they are seen to depict the lyrics in an expressive way and break up the use of the band performing. The concept section comes under the way it was made.

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

The video features lip syncing and the band playing along, although the instruments used in the song are not fully represented in the video, the drumming is most prominent as they want to draw attention to that aspect of the song. They chose to keep the performance aspect of the band subtle and not show all wires, mic, and instruments etc. This gives the video a cleaner look and allows the viewer to focus on the drawing and digital animation and dancing.

Many of the shot types are medium long shots this gives continuity and keeps the viewers focus on the video whilst the scenes/shots change.

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS:

All band members are looking directly into the camera in a lot of shots which creates direct mode of address and a sense of connection with the audience.

REPRESENTATIONS:

Throughout the video there is not much diversity as the band members all look similar, the dancers used for performance are both equally represented through the moves, however it could be said that the female is depicted using moves that are associated with vulnerability.

PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE:

The speed of the video is a fairly consistent pace throughout however slightly changing in pace in the faster sections of the song. The pace of the video comes from the use of stop motion, this is seen throughout and matches with the music for example the drumming. Through these different shots various angles and shots are used, mainly medium close up. 

LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE:

The location is not important for verisimilitude as it's filmed in a studio, subsequently the mise-en-scene is limited, the costume and props are basic which allows the viewer to focus on the music. The lighting in the dancing shots are darker this further separates it from the shots with the band and gives more atmosphere to those shots. A teal colour scheme is also used.

FX:

The video is filmed using stop motion, showing the band drumming, standing in different positions and lip syncing. This gives the video a unique style and draws in the viewer. A grid effect can also be seen in which the shots are multiplied, this breaks up the video keeping it entertaining. Rotoscoping is also used to draw over the frames in the video.

NOTABLE SHOTS/FRAMING: 

The shots in which the band are not featured are varied and all interesting, since it is shot in a stop motion effect each shot has been carefully framed. The addition of the animation also makes then notable and more aesthetically pleasing. I like the use of shadows and animation in the shot below as it is different from the other shots yet still ties together. 

REPRESENTATIONS:

There is no representation of diversity and disability through the video as the band members are all of the same ethnicity, the dancers used are also. there is not a large representation of women as the video only features one, as the band members were all men the situation could not be made much more representative of females as they used a women and man as the dancers.



group project: music video

As a group of 7 we set out to create a music video to the song Wonderwall by Oasis. We used a band in a lower year to cover it, this was helpful as it gave us a chance to practise communicating with a band. I contributed to this video by helping to organise the pre production aspects. 

My main role in this production was creating the stop motion animation, it can be seen at 0:44 in the video. This was done by myself and one other person, we created it by taking one of the boxes used throughout the video after the main section of the filming had been done and tearing it apart piece by piece while taking a photo after each small action. After the box had been broken up we dispersed the broken fragments on the floor and slowly moved it out of shot while continuing to take photos between each movement. We designed it so that fragments of cardboard would appear on screen and move forward and backwards to eventually form a box when the footage put together was reversed. The black and white filter was then applied along with the rounded square filter to fit with the rest of the video footage.

Overall I think what we achieved is great for the amount of time that we had to make them, this was achieved by the effort and planning that went in. For this we created lists of what needed to be done along with a story board type planning sheet where each main shot we were going to use was drawn out. The good communication between our group and the band allowed us to work with them with little problems. If we were going to do it again we would perhaps get a wider range of shots and include the spinning shots like in the original.