I have recently been watching music videos that are the same genre as the one we want to produce. Whilst doing this I have picked out some reoccurring elements in each of them.
These conventions are:
· There is always a main character that the story/song is about.
· Storylines
· Realistic settings/styles
· Tracking shot
· There was no dialog at the beginning of the video
· The story focuses on the front man/woman of the band being the main character.
· Lip Synchronising
· Huge amount of shots used
· Varied range of camera angles used
· Close ups of the lead singer
· Simple, easy to understand narratives
· Edits match the speed/beat of the music
· Slow edits at the beginning of the song, fast paced action shots half way through the song, and slow fades at the end.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Exploring music videos
Theory of a Deadman - Not meant to be - http://www.theoryofadeadman.com/
From the very beginning of this video, the audience are shown the disequilibrium, which suggests something is wrong as the music is fast paced, yet the shots are in slow motion. In the shots we see lots of different items of furniture smashing to the ground. Due to the slow motion, the impact of the smash is exaggerated more. This is shown as the instant it hits the floor, the song really begins. The camera then cuts to a drop of water dropping to floor. As this happens the music calms down, this could be to give the connotations of the water being pure as the soft music also gives the suggestion of it being neutral. Then we see the camera cutting to the woman – possibly the mans wife or girlfriend – walking away from him. He looks isolated and alone whereas she looks powerful and strong minded; there is a complete contrast between the two. As she is leaving, the camera cuts to a high angle point of view shot of him staring at the a broken mirror – this giving the connotations that his relationship is over. Also all of the shots of her are in slow motion, again showing that she has the power over him. There is then a cut from her outside, getting in her car, to him sitting on a sofa inside, with loads of broken pieces of furniture around him, giving the impression that he can’t get to her. Then we see this being finalized by the fact she is driving away from him and his house. There is also another cut after she drives off; taking the camera back to him singing in the house. We also notice that the we have a large view of the city they live in behind the windows; this could imply that she has left him, and that she does not want to be found. The next two scenes are contrasted with each as well, once the camera cuts from her, we notice that the next scene is lovely and bright, and that people are just about free to go anywhere (implied from the view of the city behind the windows). In the scene after that we see hi throwing a photograph of the two into fire. This looks dark, miserable, and angry and shows that he is alone. Whereas in the previous scene no one was restricted, and isolated and there seemed to be a neutral tone in terms of lighting. After this, we see a rewound version of the previous scenes, the photographs coming out of the fire, she is driving back to their house instead of away from it, and the furniture is not being smashed and broken any more. Next the camera cuts, to pan around the band, there is a medium shot of them playing, however it is more focused on the lead singer, who is constantly following the camera. As he says, “there’s still time to turn this around”, the camera cuts from him, to her pulling up on the drive and getting out of her car, implying that they have made up now. She walks back into the house in slow motion. Again the camera cuts, this time looking up at the bass player, then starts to pan. This could mean that they are rebuilding what is left of their relationship. Straight after this there is a close up of the lead singers face, panning from a slight high angle from the back of head to the front. Then the camera cuts back to band, the quickly fades to her running out of her car. The camera then fades again as he sings, “two steps back”, as she is running up two steps back to their home. And finally the loud fast paced music ends and slower calmer music starts. There is then a cut to him standing above the mirror once again, this time though it could possibly suggest that he is reflecting over the previous events. Louder music starts again, the camera cuts to her coming back to him. It is the exact same shot as the beginning of the video, where he is standing watching her leave. However this time he looks as though he is waiting for her to come back to him. And both of them have equal amounts of power, not just her. Then the broken necklace on the floor is fixed, and the drop of water is rebuilds itself again. The camera cuts to the pair hugging, and white curtains are put back up on the windows. The camera pans around the two. Both the water, and necklace, along with the white curtains signify the end of the song, as the white gives the connotations of being pure, the water and the necklace also support this. We can notice that the man is wearing black all the way through the video, implying that he is in the wrong and has a biased opinion and she is wearing both black and white clothing, when they come together in the end this helps to give the connotation that they like one again, neutral and innocent.
From the very beginning of this video, the audience are shown the disequilibrium, which suggests something is wrong as the music is fast paced, yet the shots are in slow motion. In the shots we see lots of different items of furniture smashing to the ground. Due to the slow motion, the impact of the smash is exaggerated more. This is shown as the instant it hits the floor, the song really begins. The camera then cuts to a drop of water dropping to floor. As this happens the music calms down, this could be to give the connotations of the water being pure as the soft music also gives the suggestion of it being neutral. Then we see the camera cutting to the woman – possibly the mans wife or girlfriend – walking away from him. He looks isolated and alone whereas she looks powerful and strong minded; there is a complete contrast between the two. As she is leaving, the camera cuts to a high angle point of view shot of him staring at the a broken mirror – this giving the connotations that his relationship is over. Also all of the shots of her are in slow motion, again showing that she has the power over him. There is then a cut from her outside, getting in her car, to him sitting on a sofa inside, with loads of broken pieces of furniture around him, giving the impression that he can’t get to her. Then we see this being finalized by the fact she is driving away from him and his house. There is also another cut after she drives off; taking the camera back to him singing in the house. We also notice that the we have a large view of the city they live in behind the windows; this could imply that she has left him, and that she does not want to be found. The next two scenes are contrasted with each as well, once the camera cuts from her, we notice that the next scene is lovely and bright, and that people are just about free to go anywhere (implied from the view of the city behind the windows). In the scene after that we see hi throwing a photograph of the two into fire. This looks dark, miserable, and angry and shows that he is alone. Whereas in the previous scene no one was restricted, and isolated and there seemed to be a neutral tone in terms of lighting. After this, we see a rewound version of the previous scenes, the photographs coming out of the fire, she is driving back to their house instead of away from it, and the furniture is not being smashed and broken any more. Next the camera cuts, to pan around the band, there is a medium shot of them playing, however it is more focused on the lead singer, who is constantly following the camera. As he says, “there’s still time to turn this around”, the camera cuts from him, to her pulling up on the drive and getting out of her car, implying that they have made up now. She walks back into the house in slow motion. Again the camera cuts, this time looking up at the bass player, then starts to pan. This could mean that they are rebuilding what is left of their relationship. Straight after this there is a close up of the lead singers face, panning from a slight high angle from the back of head to the front. Then the camera cuts back to band, the quickly fades to her running out of her car. The camera then fades again as he sings, “two steps back”, as she is running up two steps back to their home. And finally the loud fast paced music ends and slower calmer music starts. There is then a cut to him standing above the mirror once again, this time though it could possibly suggest that he is reflecting over the previous events. Louder music starts again, the camera cuts to her coming back to him. It is the exact same shot as the beginning of the video, where he is standing watching her leave. However this time he looks as though he is waiting for her to come back to him. And both of them have equal amounts of power, not just her. Then the broken necklace on the floor is fixed, and the drop of water is rebuilds itself again. The camera cuts to the pair hugging, and white curtains are put back up on the windows. The camera pans around the two. Both the water, and necklace, along with the white curtains signify the end of the song, as the white gives the connotations of being pure, the water and the necklace also support this. We can notice that the man is wearing black all the way through the video, implying that he is in the wrong and has a biased opinion and she is wearing both black and white clothing, when they come together in the end this helps to give the connotation that they like one again, neutral and innocent.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Flatplans
These are my flatplans for the album art and the poster i will be making on Photoshop at a later date.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Location scouting
On monday 19th October, Warrren and me went out location scouting for possible places to shoot our video. The following images are of the possible locations wish to use.
The following images are of the areas that we would like to see the band playing in our video:
1.We would like to use the place in the next two photographs because of the view you are able to see whilst standing on it.
2.However, we are also thinking of using either of these two parts of the beach. In the first image we are thinking of having the band play facing away from the sea. However when the tide comes in there could be some problems. In the second photo we can see the top end of the beach, it woudl be good to film here because of the cliffs behind it - and we wont get the equipment wet from the incoming tide.
3. Finally the next three images are of a field. I really like the surrounding areas. The trees would give the impression of the band being alone while they are playing their music. In effect its the same idea of the sea, isolating them from everyone else.
The following images are of the areas that we would like to see the band playing in our video:
1.We would like to use the place in the next two photographs because of the view you are able to see whilst standing on it.
2.However, we are also thinking of using either of these two parts of the beach. In the first image we are thinking of having the band play facing away from the sea. However when the tide comes in there could be some problems. In the second photo we can see the top end of the beach, it woudl be good to film here because of the cliffs behind it - and we wont get the equipment wet from the incoming tide.
3. Finally the next three images are of a field. I really like the surrounding areas. The trees would give the impression of the band being alone while they are playing their music. In effect its the same idea of the sea, isolating them from everyone else.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Questionnaire.
- What type(s) of music do you like?
RnB
Classical
Rock
Jazz
Punk
Blues
Pop
Dance
Country
Other (please state)
Out of the following artists, who do you like best?
Theory of a Deadman
Shakira
Girls Aloud
Basshunter
Rev Theory
Nickelback
Sugababes
The Saturdays
JLS
Out of the following songs, which do you prefer?
In the Middle – Theory of a Deadman
How You Remind Me – Nickelback
Wordshaker – The Saturdays
The One – Shakira
Do you prefer to see animations in music videos?
Yes No
In your opinion, what is the most important feature of a music video?
The Narrative
The shots
The Music
The pace
Lip synchronisation
Other
What types of shots/camera movements/camera angles do you like to see in music videos?
Fast paced, action shots
Slow paced shots
Close ups
Long shots
Medium shots
Panning
Zooms
High Angle
Isolation shots
Low Angle
Other (please state)
Do you like to see music videos that follow the same conventions?
Yes
No (if no, please state your reasons)
Not bothered
Where do you watch music videos?
TV
Internet
Other (please state)
(Note: we had already recieved our results by the time we posted this questionnaire. Also we had complete questions 2 and 3 on separate occassions because we needed to lower the possibilities of the artist we would use, then of the song we would use. However we asked the same people).
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Group intentions for the music video.
After much planning and consideration our group (Warren Connor, Jonny Elliot, myself, and Christina Harmer) have decided to didicate ourselves to one task in the project. However, we are obviously going to help with the other things that we need to do, not just our own assigned roles.
I will be responsible for the filming of the video.I will be deciding on the types of shots we will be using. The lighting conditions, (for when we are filming in doors. Obvisouly if we are filming outside, if it is sunny we wont be able to do any filming. However if it is a little overcast or cloudy then we will be able to film perfectly)and the lenght of time each shot takes. We dont want too long of a shot so our audience wont be bored. If we are able to mangage to have each shot playing for about 2-3 seconds it will work extremely well. If not then i would think that we would have to either edit the shots, or film them again.
Warren will be doing the planning/research for the video. This will include analysis of music videos and looking at the conventions of them. Location scouting, And storyboarding the ideas we have for the filming.
Christina will be doing the editing and making decisions on whether or not we need to do any more filming for video.
Jonny will be completing the print media we need to go with the video, so he will be researching into what makes good album artwork, and what is more likely to sell on the shop floor.
I will be responsible for the filming of the video.I will be deciding on the types of shots we will be using. The lighting conditions, (for when we are filming in doors. Obvisouly if we are filming outside, if it is sunny we wont be able to do any filming. However if it is a little overcast or cloudy then we will be able to film perfectly)and the lenght of time each shot takes. We dont want too long of a shot so our audience wont be bored. If we are able to mangage to have each shot playing for about 2-3 seconds it will work extremely well. If not then i would think that we would have to either edit the shots, or film them again.
Warren will be doing the planning/research for the video. This will include analysis of music videos and looking at the conventions of them. Location scouting, And storyboarding the ideas we have for the filming.
Christina will be doing the editing and making decisions on whether or not we need to do any more filming for video.
Jonny will be completing the print media we need to go with the video, so he will be researching into what makes good album artwork, and what is more likely to sell on the shop floor.
Evaluation of year 12, and A2 intentions.
This year, we originally thought about doing a Horror trailer for our practical prodcutions. However, after much thought and planning we decided to try a music video.
During year 12, i developed a larger understanding and knowledge of print media - mostly film and music magazines - about the camera angles they use in them, what the audience look for when they buy a magazine, and (in my opinion most importantly) time management.
This year, i intend to include more multimedia, and more evalulative evidence in my blog.
During year 12, i developed a larger understanding and knowledge of print media - mostly film and music magazines - about the camera angles they use in them, what the audience look for when they buy a magazine, and (in my opinion most importantly) time management.
This year, i intend to include more multimedia, and more evalulative evidence in my blog.
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