Music Video: Shots and Locations Update

After further detailing the plan for the music video I now have a few more locations to add to my plan...

* House (bed, stairs, front door)
* Gig setting (The Mars Bar?) with a crowd of people..
* Riverside setting
* Car
* Outside house setting
* Sofa and living room
* Shots of the two singers lit from behind the head, black background, miming the words.

Music Video: Rough Layout

0.00 – 0.21 :    A couple waking up and rushing around getting dressed, keys missing, very late for something… Driving in a car, arguments.

0.21 – 0.25 :    Long crane shot rising from the feet of the couple revealing the gig setting in front of them.

0.25 – 0.48 :    Performance shots of the band on stage with a very lively audience..

                       Close ups, long shots…

                        Interspersed with shots of the couple in the gig setting smiling and having fun

0.48 – 1.12 :    The couple at the riverside setting holding hands having fun, smiling laughing…

1.12 – 1.16 :    Couple running off into the distance along the river for the build up into the chorus.

1.16 – 1.42 :    More performance shots of the band without reusing the same shots.

1.42 – 1.58 :    Back to the couple, now arguing in a car on their way home and on their way into the house

1.58 – 2.23 :     the couple sat down on a sofa now relaxed and smiling watching tv…

                        Superimpose the two singers close up shots on top of the couple, only when they’re singing.

2.23 – 2.26 :    Build up to the chorus with their feet running up the stairs.. shot from the other side of the banister.

2.26 – 2.53 :    Chorus flips back to the performance shots in the gig space. Showing the crowd and the performance and persona of the band.

2.53 – 3.00 :    shot of the guitarist playing the solo on guitar.

Music Video: Costumes and Props

The costumes for the band will be pretty similar to their normal clothing as this is part of their star image and persona. Their props will include all their instruments and all these things they can provide for the performance based part of the video.







For two actors, their costumes will also be pretty much normal clothing, as they need to look like they are normal people. I will also need probs like, keys, car, drink...

Music Video: Possible Locations

For the start of the video, I will need a house setting for the couple to begin in. This will be a room at my house.
Also for the couple I need a car setting, I can also provide this with my car.
I have also been in contact with the Mars Bar in Worcester about using their performing space and having an audience in. They said that was fine, and the band also agreed that this would be a good idea and they can get their followers and friends and family to come along to be part of the audience, this is something the band has done before and they said that it worked very well.
Also for one another scene with the couple I want to use the side of the river in Worcester at night this will be fine as no permission is needed for this.

Music Video: Concept Update

At the photoshoot for the print production work, I also had chance to speak to the band about what the song meant to them. This was important because the band input is vital to the video. They said that they feel the song is about a journey to a better place. That is where my idea for the couple still works, at the beginning they will be arguing, not getting along and doubting their future. But throughout the video the journey they take will prove that they still mean something to each other.

Advert

Digipack

Shoot

The photo shoot yesterday went very well, I am now currently editing the photos and adding them to my advert and digipack.

Photo Shoot update

The photo shoot is today at 4:15 I have prepared by checking all the equipment, I have brought in my own Cannon 550D DSLR and fish-eye attachment. I have also prepared the room and tested all the lights and equipment I will be using.

Test lighting photos

These last two photos are two of the lighting effects I want to use for the photo shoot.

Update

I have a weeks extension until 7th December because the band was unavailable for a photo shoot as they were on tour. I have already laid out both my advert and digipack and added all the text (both seen below), the only thing missing is the photographs. I have since arranged the photo shoot with them for Tuesday 4th Decmeber at 4:15, meeting at college. I have asked them to wear dark clothes mainly blacks if possible. The shoot will take place in the media room with heavy use of lights to pick up the style I want to portray. I will also be practising with the lights and the camera on the Monday so I make sure none of the band's time is wasted trying to find the right lighting. 

Advert Sketch

Digipack Rough Draft

Print Work: The Concept

For the print work I want to use redundant elements to keep the bands star persona. But from my research, all three digipacks I looked at used more of an entropic element, with different random objects. For the front of the album cover I want to use the band standing in a line slightly staggered in a completely dark room with one light to the side of them or above or below with a rather Chiaroscuro look like the photo seem below.

In this photo, I like the fact that the eyes are completely in shadow it really detaches the the audience from the person and adds an element of mystery to the whole image.

The image on the left shows more of the rocky element head banging and screaming.

For the rest of the digipack I would like to keep the same sort of style and maybe have more extreme close ups of the eyes/mouth...

For the CD inlay tray i would like to use a fish-eye lens shot of a person sticking their tongue out as it relates to the band name 'This Wicked Tongue'

For the outside back cover a would like to have the reverse of the main cover, so you can see the back of the bands heads.


I think this whole idea will be rather redundant for the audience however the use of light and shadows will add an entropic feeling and add an element of mystery to the digipack.

Coursework Time Plan

Genre Research

Foo Fighters: The Pretender

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ

This video immediately brings the element of live performance into the diagetic world. The establishing shot (seen left) first show a huge room with the instruments lying on the floor, abandoned. The mise-en-scene is very minimalistic however later on in the video this changes dramatically.

The editing is clearly motivated by the music and the sounds, this is clear use of synaesthesia, one of Goodwin's theories.

The live performance is the only element until 1.20, and then a collection of men start gathering together in a line dressed in riot uniforms. From the highly redundant start to this video it continues on to become rather entropic, adding elements like this, which is completely unexpected.

Close ups of the each member of the band are used throughout the video, especially the lead singer. This portrays the star persona and the image of the band. It always portrays the aggressive nature of a rock band. It also shows the audience what this band would be like to see live, and through their music video they can portray the the atmosphere and logistics of a live performance.

Later in the video paint and water is blasted into the big warehouse, as the men in riot gear charge towards the band, who are still playing. This element of chaos really adds to the music video, it is one feature that runs throughout rock videos. Also the rebelliousness of the paint, making a mess and going against the rules... All contribute to the genre characteristics of a rock music video.

Digipack and Advert Research

Digipack Research

 I have looked at three different digipacks from the 'Foo Fighters', 'Oasis' and 'The Naked and Famous'. They all contain similar conventions to the genre of music. The 'Foo Fighters' album cover seen on the left, uses highly abstract objects that wouldn't necessarily relate directly to the audience, it portrays more of an entropic feeling. Little anchorage is used to explain why these pictures were chosen which again adds to the entropic features. Also the background is just a plain colour either white of dark brown. One feature that runs throughout all three and is usually seen twice on the digipack, once on the back and once on the inside left, is the barcode and copyright details. This is something that I must include in my digipack, this is one feature that runs through all genres of music.

With the 'Oasis' digipack the use of a fish-eye lens on the camera works well, as it is the same size as the CD contained and relates the two well. This is something I might also use in my project. Another feature that runs throughout is that none of these digipacks promote the start image of the band, only the 'Oasis' has a small picture of the band. This connotes that maybe the audience is expected to already know who the band are and what their star persona portrays. Use of colour is not one of the main conventions in the first two digipacks, however the 'Naked and Famous' digipack, seen below challenges those conventions seen above.

The outer ring uses two images that look to be at the same setting using the same angle and positioning for the photograph, but a completely different mise en scene because one is completely covered in snow. Then completely contrasting that there is the use of an inner circle, also seen in the 'Oasis' digipack. But this one contains bright colours with a kind of pop art feel to them. This album cover has many conventions of the other two but also challenges them too.

Overall I like the use of the circular theme and I like the effect of a fish-eye lens, I also like the way the last digipack challenges the original conventions with the use of bright colours. All three use a very simplistic layout they're not cluttered with lots of information, just the band name and album title. Equally the back of the cover is the same with just the list of the songs, without numbers by the side of them, copyright information and a barcode. Also the very minimal use of the star persona runs through all three. These are all conventions I believe work very well making the the CD as a whole more interesting and intriguing for the target audience.

Advert Research

Here is a previous advert from the band that I am using in my music video. Straight away, it clearly shows the star persona of the band, and each member showcasing they're individual instruments and styles in the four images across the top. This is something I must continue for my project, consistently portraying the distinct image of the band so they are clearly noticeable for their regular audience. The advert is sized A4, the bands name 'This Wicked Tongue' is written in the same font that is used on their other adverts and media texts. The advert is overall rather redundant it contains the album name, the release date and other information about the band's social networking sites. One feature that is really useful is the QR code, that can be scanned by any smart phone and sends you straight to their website. Also all the links to their YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are shown, this is something I believe I should also include in my magazine. The advertising of the album is just a small part of the advert because as all artists are realising now is that the main income for artists is moving away from album sales and more on to tours and live gigs, mainly because of piracy and illegal downloading.

This 'Foo Fighters' advert is also A4 sized and ultimately very redundant. The use of the bands own logo (seen below) is part of the bands image and a noticeable feature for all most people who know about the band.

This advert is even more redundant than the first, the only information seen on this advert is the band name, album name, release date and a couple of the most well known songs, although that isn't much it is all that is needed for a well know, popular band. As it is advertising their 'Greatest Hits' album it is more aimed at existing fans and is less about selling the band as a whole.

Overall these two adverts have very similar qualities but also challenge the conventions in different ways. From this research I can clearly see that, how popular the band is and the money and backing they have behind them completely changes the advert. For smaller, up and coming bands it is more about getting the band name out there and not only advertising the album but the band as well. Whereas for the bigger bands and artists it is about reaching out to their existing fans and less about advertising who the band are and where to find them. So I know for my advert I will have to show the star persona and advertise the band as a whole and less about the album. However the redundant feel is used throughout, no matter how big the band is, so that is something I must also continue through to my print work.

The Pitch

Genre Research

Initial Ideas

My initial ideas for the music video is to have a two main characters, one male and one female. The narrative will be to do with their struggle as a couple... interspersed with clips of the bands performance in two different locations, one a gig setting and the other in a large outdoor space. The narrative will have a happy ending and the couple will realise that there is more to life than arguing and falling out. So as well as getting the band on board I need to find two actors who would look good and be comfortable together.

Video Analysis

Analysis: Hall Of Fame – The Script featuring will.i.am

The music video for ‘Hall Of Fame’ was released on the 19^th August 2012, a few weeks before The Script’s album ‘#3’ came out on the 10^th September. The song is a collaboration between The Script and Will.i.am, where both the artists are seen throughout the video side by side mostly singing alternative lines instead of having a complete section of the song each. The release of this video was at such an important time, and not only promoted the single but also the album release.

‘Hall Of Fame’ also showcased something new for The Script, who have not been seen collaborating with other artists before, let alone with people like will.i.am. I believe this song is trying to change the direction of the script into more of a mainstream pop band.

The video begins before the song and uses clever parallel editing showing the two stories of a deaf ballet dancer and an aspiring boxer going about their daily lives. The use of mise en scene contrasts the two lives of these people showing the boy sleeping on a mattress on the floor with holes in the walls and being woken up by his mother kicking the bed, which connotes a poor, weak family. Whereas the girl lying in a double bed and is peacefully woken up by her father, connoting more of a wealthy and stable family. As well as the two story lines that run throughout the music video, we are shown frequent shots of the two artists performing the song in a completely different location.

Clear elements of intertextuality are shown from the very first shot with the boxer jumping up and down (on the left) this definitely referencing scenes from the film ‘Raging Bull’ (on the right).

Also the deaf girl is seen with makeup across her eyes and white feathers on her head signifying a swan aspect (below). This is a clear intertextual reference to ‘Black Swan’, which is a 2010 ballet thriller/horror (seen on the right). The story of the girl being an outsider trying to fit in and get the main role is very similar to the ‘Hall of Fame’ video. In both the film and this music video it shows her struggling to fit in and get the part she wants, making mistakes but getting back up and trying again.

There are possibly even intertextual references to Geri Halliwell’s It’s Raining Men video when near the end of the music video the dancer is seen auditioning in front of judges. And using a very similar over the shoulder shot (as seen below) and she falls down, then starts again and everything is fine the second time round.

The first shot we see of the artist goes against the normal conventions of a video. Showing a close up of a hand playing the piano first, we don’t see an establishing shot until we return to that location a couple of shots later. This is interesting use of editing and cinematography that holds information back from the audience. 

Synaesthesia is one element that is clearly used throughout this video, seen first in the shot of the piano where you can see the keys hitting the strings. It then returns to the same location with a wider shot so you can see that it is the lead singer from The Script playing the piano, and where the actual location is as the editing hid that from the audience before. More use of synaesthesia is also seen in this second shot where the lights are coming on and off in time with the music.

A lot of the editing is motivated by the sound. Just before each chorus there is a series of fast beats, for the second chorus this is illustrated by a shot of a boxer hitting a punch bag in time with the beat.  Also nearer the end of the video there is a shot of the deaf girls hand touching the speaker, which is a very obvious way of seeing the sound. It is also a very interesting use of cinematography combine the sense of touch with the sense of hearing for the audience.

 

When the lyrics begin we cut straight to both artists in the same large warehouse location as the piano. Each line is sung in turn between Danny and Will.i.am in a sort of stand off/call and answer style. Without looking directly into the camera they are singing as If it was an argument with each other. As soon as the chorus starts they address the audience directly by looking straight into the camera, this is when you can really view their star image. Will.i.am’s style and persona is thought to be very different to The Script’s, perhaps the video of two contrasting stories relates also to the contrast between the two artists.

Voyeuristic treatment of the female body is seen very little in this video, if at all. But there is certainly a sense of looking in many shots especially this shot on the left. The ballet dancer is leant up against the mirror staring herself down. Maybe showing that she, herself, is her own obstacle that she must overcome. In this shot the audience is invited in to see her point of view, that she is the only thing in her way.

It could be said that Levi-Strauss’ theory on the narrative being motivated by binary opposites could also be evident in this video. The main characters seem to be outsiders in their own world, the girl is deaf and the boy, poor and weak. The narrative is showing their road to overcome these problems. So although there is no specific binary opposite, the music video is showcasing a story to overcoming their personal flaws.

This video is mostly amplifying the lyrics are given more of a meaning by the addition of the video and made personal to the stories of the two separate people. Although there are many parts of the video that could be classed as illustrative. Overall this video uses all the forms and conventions stated by Andrew Goodwin in his 6 theories, and also the narrative theory stated by Levi-Strauss.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raging_Bull#Plot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan_(film)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqXUpe3jlkA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQhwi8kk-dE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk48xRzuNvA

Goodwin's Conventions Of A Music Video

1.      Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).

2.      There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (Either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

3.      There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (Either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). This is linked to the concept of Synaesthesia - Seeing the sound, the visual, including the editing make the sound visual. There is a physical representation of verse/chorus structure.

“This idea is absolutely central to understand music videos as they build on the soundtrack’s visual associations in order to connect with the audience and provide additional pleasure.” Pete Fraser

4.      The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style that reflects their star image/persona).

5.      There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. (Mulvey)

6.      There are often intertextual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.). (Barthes, Allen, Stewart)

What Is A Music Video?

• The video lasts at least as long as the track (can be longer if you have and intro or outro or both)
• The video features the artist/band quite prominently
• The video features some element of performance- singing and playing instruments (usually miming) and often dancing or acting too
• The video has some kind of concept along with the track
• The video does not feature a complete narrative but the concept may involve fragment of a narrative
• Different genres of music produce slightly different visual conventions in music videos

Pete Fraser

A2 Practical Task

The practical task for the A2 year is to create:

* A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with:

 * A digipak for the album's release;

 * A magazine advertisement for the digipak.

Practice Music Video (Busted)

Practice Lip-Sync Activity