SNOW A lot of my shots were planned to be outside, but since there has been snow, I will not be able to get the mise-en-scene I wanted. Therefore I plan to move the majority of outdoor shoots to inside, so that the weather will not contradict with the lyrics, 'Over the summer..'
Therefore instead of using the shoots outside, and where she gets hit by a football for the end of the music video, I am going to film on the pier. I am going to film by the arcade games and in the ice cream parlour. This is because there are bright colours and this is assositated with summer and pop music videos. Props needed -Sunglasses -Dresses -Ice Cream -Flowery accessories
Here are my new ideas-
Since having to change my filming from outdoors to interior locations, I have thought about using a 1970s theme to certain shoots of my music video. This is because Grease was filmed in 1978, and was an original idea in my treatment. I googled 1978 fashion, and after researching, talking to older people, and watching grease, I think I am going to dress the actors in plain, bold dresses for the summer scene.
The footage I got with Molly didn't turn out great, and also because of exams it will be hard for her to film much. Therefore I am going to start again filming with people who go to the same college as me so that it is easier to get together. Katy Perry- Vanessa Wall Boy Crush- Reuben Vickery 'Girly' Girls- Georgina Nichol and Me
I'm going to keep main characters to a minimum, because that way there is a better chance of filming actually being able to happen. Other friends have agreed to help out small parts too.
Filming Day One Review.When I was filming yesterday, it didn't go to plan. It was raining lots, and therefore we didn't do any filming outside. Also, whilst putting footage into final cut pro, I noticed I needed more shots, stronger lighting, and a better location, because you can see clutter in the bedroom. Here is a clip of what I have edited:
I plan to film this shoot again, and hopefully get Molly and other people into college this week to film some scenes.
Tomorrow, my friend Molly is coming round and we are going to film some shoots inside and outside. She has learnt the words and I have told her to bring jeans, adark t-shirt, and converse. Also I planned on her wearing a baseball cap, but unfortunately I only have one with 'Kerrang Tour' on it, and that is from the rock genre of music, therefore would look out of place in my music video. So I have decided to try painting it blue! Hopefully it will dry and look alright or I will just use a beanie. I plan to film in the mirror (reflection, over the shoulder shot), on the bed, and walking outside. Other props I am going to use are girly magazines, a running medal, makeup and nail varnish.
Today I have planned out what part of the song each of the locations is going to focus on, I have colour coded the lyrics to show this! I also had to print copys of the lyrics out to make sure Vanessa can learn them!
Over the last few days and since overlooking researched videos I have managed to plan a music video. I made my storyboard on papper, therfore I have scanned it into the computer and made a slideshow to show the order of my planning!
I saw some use of stop motion in the music video for Kate Nash's song Foundations. I then have been researching stop motion more on youtube. This is one particular video, which I really like. I plan to try out making my own stop motion animation, and prehaps use that in my music video.
Here is a collage of images I found which are digipaks/album overs of female pop artists. As you can see there are some very strong conventions such as, the artist is posing, there is a strong colour scheme. In all of the artworks, there is a voyeristic approach on the arists, from codes such as skin showing, facial expressions and costume. In a few of Katy Perry's album's and Kelly Clarkson's album, props have been used to add fun and still be voyeristic. Also in a few albums over the shoulder shots or close ups are used. All of the artists have makeup on.
I decided to interview three media students from my class. I played the song 'one of the boys' by Katy perry and I then asked them four questions about who they think the target audience would be, and how I would reach them. Although I'm pretty convinced from the focus group that 13-18 year old girls, I wanted to know if they thoughts so too.
The video of the interview:
I found this very useful, because they were able to tell me more about creating the music video, because they have greater knowledge than the last group I asked questions too. They told me to take a voyeristic approach, to use bright colours, and to make sure it is narrative based with performance cut in between.
I wanted to know who Katy Perry would appeal to. I have been looking at Katy Perry's fan websites and videos on youtube of her gigs to see who attends. The target audience I have identified is 13-18 year old girls. This is because this is the early teen years and young girls often idolise with Katy Perry. They fulfil the need to identify and entertain. To make sure I was targeting the right audience, I decided to show my treatment and talk about my ideas to my sister Sophie who is 14. I then printed off my treatment ideas and asked her to take them to school and get opinions from her friends Here is a webcam video of them discussing their opinion on my pitch:
Ref to other videos The lyrics of the song have a popular narrative where a girl gets a makeover to impress thw boy she likes. I have been researching online and it has been used in many songs and films. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me I looked at this music video and did a frame by frame copy of the first minute (first attempt). At the end of the music video at prom the lead singer had been given a makeover and ends up with the guy she likes.
She's the man - Film She's The Man, is a film about a girl who pretends to be her brother to persue her love for football. The two screen shots to the left show shots that I particularly would like to use in my video.
She's the man is based on Shakespeares twelfth night. It has all the same characters and storyline.
Shes all that !
She's all that is a teen rom-com from 1999. It is about a boy who transforms an unpopular girl into 'prom queen material'. Like the featured texts above, it also contains a makeover.
Pink Ladies From the famous film, Grease. The pink ladies are stereotypical girls who are pretty, powerful and look the part and know about boys. They also try to give the main character, 'Sandy' a makeover.
Concept
The song is in the pop genre, hence there will typically be a voyeristic approach, and a bright colour scheme. There will also be a love narrative, including a makeover. It will be a performance-narrative video.
I have been thinking about what song to make a music video for, and think it would be best to make a music video for a song that does not have a video. I want to make a funny up beat typical pop video, and I am going to use an old song to be sure a new video will not be released! I think a good song to use would be One of the boys by Katy Perry.
I then brainstormed some ideas on a mind map, which is below. This music video would definately be performanced based I think, because the narrative is very strong.
I have been looking at Todorov's narrative theory, which is for linear narratives. I have applied it to two music videos:
This is the music video for We The Kings- Say You Like Me. I think this is a good music video to apply Todorov's narrative theory to, because even though it is half narrative and half performance-based (Steve Archer), the music video has half been animated to look like a video game. The members of the band and 'the girl' have been made into video game characters to exaggerate the lyrics and clearly show the artist being the hero. At the equilibrium at the beginning everything is normal, there is a shot of the band sat round a table and a girl on her own at a bar. Titles appear on screen to narrate the character roles, for example, 'The Girl' at 0.15 and 'The Band' at 0.18. There is a shot where there is a split screen of half of the band and half of the girl, foreshadowing the forthcoming events.
The disruption of the equilibrium happens at 0.20 when 'The Bad Guy' pulls up to the bar. The expression on the girls face shown by a close up implies how she is not interested. The bad guy and his two helpers grab the girl and speed off in the fast car.
The recognition of the distruption happens at 0.36 where the lead singer in the band gets food thrown at him from a bad guy. Before this when the girl is taken away she looks back at the band symbolising she wants them to save her and that she needs them.
The attempt to repair the distruption takes place for the majority of the music video. The music video is half real and half animated, supporting the effect of the music video being like a video game. The video is constructed with sub titles stating which level of the quest is taking place.
The equilibrium is restored, however not the was it was. The hero and the girl defeat the villan and there is a split screen shot of the bad guy crying and the girl and the lead singer kissing. The video closes nicely by being in the same setting as the equilibrium at the begining at the bar, but this time the girl is sat with the band.
Time - Chase & Status ft Delilah
The equilibrium of this music video is when everything is normal and the girl only sees the family as having a happy family life. Eventhough from her facial expressions it is suggested that she may be execting something unusual is going on.
The disruption of the equlibrium is when the Father gets drunk. He then gets aggressive and violent to the Mother and hits her.
The recognition of the distruption happens when the girl witnesses her Father shouting and pushing her Mother down the stairs. This shot is filmed as a close up of her eye peeping through the door, with a tear running down her face. This is dramatic, because it symbolises the upset that she has closed away.
The attempt to repair is when the girl makes a phonecall, and then shortly after the police arrive and take the Father away. The girl is trying to save her Mother, and is doing what is best.
The equilibrium is restored when the Mother, girl and younger sibling go to visit the Father in prison. The parents still have feelings for each other, and this upsets the girl. The last few shots of the music video show the Father in prison, the Mother and Sister at home, and the girl packing her car and driving away.
Other narrative features:
Flashbacks are often used in music videos to show narrative. An example is One Republic's, Stop and Stare music video.
Another type of narrative for a music video is being mulit-stranded. An example is Devlin ft. Ed Sheeran - Watchtower. Here the video is purely narrative based, and it is a crime narrative. There has even been an extended music video filmed to finish the narrative. It is very intense and is focused around the idea of family and having no escape.
Saturday 24th November I have been thinking about which song I would like to make a muisic video copy of. At the moment I think a Taylor Swift song would be easiest, therefore I plan to look further into which songs would bebest! Taylor Swift songs have a strong narrative.
Possible song no. 1 ...
Also Katy Perry has strong narrative in her lyrics, and is also in the pop genre hence there will be clear conventions to follow.
Possible song no. 2 ...
After looking at both of the sets of lyrics, I have decided to do the Katy Perry song. This is because I feel it has a stronger narrative and is more upbeat and positive.
Here is my final frame by frame copy. I am very pleased with the final result, and I think it is noticable that I was more prepared for this video than I was for my Taylor Swift copy. Unfortunately I was unable to find a location with a bus for one of the shots, therefore I made the previous clip longer.
Modernism -Between 1890s - 1960s.-An art/social-political movement that aimed to reinvent outdated culture. -Rejected realism. -Avant-garde and surrealism were divisions of modernism.
Postmodernism -1970s onwards. -Blur between fiction and reality. -The breakdown of binary divides. -Mixed up time, space and narrative. -Hyper reality Intertexuality -When one media text refers to another.
Parody -Mocking something in an original way.
Pastiche -An artist work in a style that imitates that of another artist, work or period. Bricolage
-Mixing up and using different genre and styles
Homage -Imitation from a respectful standpoint.
The music video for 'The Kill' by 30 seconds to mars is a perfect example of intertexuality. The mise-en-scene narrative and location all refer to the horror film, 'The Shining'.
For my second attempt of a frame by frame remake I have done a lot of planning. Here are screen shots that I took of every different shot, so that I knew what exactly to film in each location. I also took notes of what type of shot was used, i.e tracking, close up, panning.
To do a frame by frame remake I have decided on the locations I am going to use. I have put underneath the location which shots I am going to film in the location. The screen shots above have numbers on to explain where I am going to film each shot.
Uphill boat yard
15, 16, 42 and 43
Coridoor in Locking village hall 1
5 and 8.
Locking church
31 32 and 37.
RAF Locking
7 10 11 12 15 19 20 21 22 30 35 and 41.
At home I plan to do filming too which this mise en scene:
A room filled with lamps 23 24 29 and 38.
A room with sofa by window26 27 28 34 and 36.
Bathroom mirror 39 and 40.
Unfortunately, I can't film a cheering crowd, therefore I am going to use the idea from the young girls copy of Lego House and use lego people instead.
Props...
Braclets and watch
Guitar
Pen and paper
Lamps
Mirror
Hair gel
Orange book
Duvet/cover
Toy
Headphones
Red/pink jacket
Green top
After the Taylor Swift video didn't go to plan I decided to do another shot by shot copy of a music video. I have decided to do a copy of Ed Sheeran- Lego House. This is because the settings are avaliable for me and because it has not got too high production values.
I have carefully planned my filming this time! Here is a shot by shot analysis of what I plan to do on Saturday...
I was planning to use a teenage boy to be Ed Sheeran in my music video copy, but after finding this video on YouTube called Jasmin, I think I am going to use my little sister as the main singer. This video is adorable, and I think it would be good to do a copy which has originality.
24th October After talking about lip syncing to my family, my younger sister was inspired by a Christmas hat in October. Although this is only a phone recording and was not planned, I think it is proof that she would definitely be up for participating in a music video if needed!
I personally think children acting in music videos is very effective, and can be a great way of expressing music for a variety of reactions off an audience. Although this would vary on the viewers psychographics and demographics; below are a list of preffered readings.
Jessie J - Who's Laughing Now Here a child has been used to show the artist reminiscing childhood memories, and an actress has been used that looks similar to the artist.
Professor Green ft. Emele Sande - Read All About ItHere a young boy is used to show him witnessing events, and this has a strong impact on an audience, because of the shot used at ...... where his eyes portray strong emotion (visuals narrate lyrics).
Kelly Clarkson - Because Of YouHere a child is used to show the innocent childlike view the artist is trying to show. The lyrics, 'I am afraid' are present when there is a child in the artists reflection, implying the idea of her experiencing child intense frightness.
I have decided to do another music video copy, as the people who was in the Taylor Swift copy are unavaliable to do filming again. I want to refilm parts which needed to be filmed with a tripod to get a higher quality video. This is only a practice piece and I have learnt to always use a tripod. Here is the video completed:
Today I imported my filming footage from yesterday into Final Cut Pro. I have missed a few shots and will need to re film some shots with a tripod for a more professional outcome. Also as shown in the print screen above, the bench shots outside were not successful as it was dark. Therefore I plan to film again very soon!
Unfortunately, today (planned filming day) I have been told that most of the group who were going to be filming The Saturdays can't make it. I have therefore decided to change the music video copy to Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me. This is because only three people are needed. Later today I am going to film my friends who don't do media, Lottie King and Sean Kelly, being the couple in the video. I can't access a location where two windows are facing each other, but I plan to just use one window and make the final outcome as similar as possible.
Preparation!
I have found some 'nerd' glasses which I am going to use in the video. Also I have thought of a great place to film the bench shot. I have also borrowed a mirror, which is similar to the one in the video. For the dress up scene in the artist's room, I have found some outfits which are similar too.
I have been looking at music videos for a while, and I really want to do a girl band music video. I would like to do a narrative, but I have decided to do a copy of The Saturdays - Issues. This is because I have the right amount of girl actors willing to participate in my filming to react The Saturdays, and after looking at all of their videos, 'Issues' is the one with the lowest budget and few special effects, making it realistic for me to copy.
I decided to write down all the different shots used at each time, and then highlighted them in groups. I decided the setting would need to be at my friends house, because it is on a hill, and that we would need to get some filming done on Uphill beach. I want to film more than one minute so that the people I am filming can get used to it, because I want them to be in my final music video. I plan to film up to 2.12, because after that another new location is introduced, and I don't want to make a bonfire for a few more seconds filmning.
After planning out the shoots, I then contacted my friends on a facebook group e-mail, telling them all about where the filming will be and at what time. I also said who they would be acting and what clothes to bring (I decided who would be who based on hair colour)!
Una Healy by Livvy Jackson Rochelle Wiseman by Jess Richards Frankie Sandford by Emily Atkinson Vanessa White by Amy Irons (me) Mollie King by Lottie King
Plan
On Wednesday 17th October, we are going to film the scenes that are filmed inside the house. This includes...
-Me singing in cream dress by window.
-Emily singing on rug with lace top.
-Jess singing in white dress.
-Lottie singing by stairs in grey sparkly dress.
-Livvy singing by flowers and lamp shade, with earings.
On Sunday 21st October, we are going to film the scenes that are on the beach. We are also going to go to Jess' house that is on a hill. -Close ups of all of us singing along the beach
-Need to get colourful umbrellas (poundland)
-Shot of Jess' house.
I have been planning exactly what shoots to take and here are some of my notes all ready for filming!
To practice lip synching me and Maria did different shots of us singing to Rhianna - Umbrella. I found this task really useful, because it allowed me to use Final Cut Pro for the first time and experiment with editing and the tools I can use to get the footage how I want it. E.g- crop the footage, change the tint.
Although we didn't plan this task through very much, I think it has turned out better than I expected, and I am looking forwards to planning more filming tasks!
Me and Maria have decided to lip synch to Rhianna- Umbrella. We have learnt the lyrics and have planned to film a variety of shots inside and outside. We are then going to edit the shots together, we plan to get as many different shots as possible in the avaliable time to make the final outcome as lively as possible.
On post-it notes I made a narrative for Tracy Chapman's song Fast Car. It is a sad song, and I have tried to make some of the visuals match the lyrics. I used post-it notes so that I could show a linear and non-linear narrative.
Linear Narrative
When I constructed the post-it notes in this order, I ensured that they were in a linear chronological narrative structure. It is simple to follow and I think it illustrates the lyrics well.
In the first line of drawings there is a picture fitting the lyrics, 'See my old man's got a problem, he live with the bottle that's the way it is'. There is then a drawing of a bad school exam results to illustrate her quiting school. Then there is a drawing of her stood in a storm crying, showing the low point in her life.
In the second line there is firstly a picture of a man arriving in a fast car. The second and third picture illustrates the lyric, 'And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder, and I had a feeling that I belonged, and I had the feeling I could be someone.' The last picture in a calm setting driving into the sun contrasts with the earlier picture of a storm, hence I have tried to use pathetic fallacy.
The first illustration of the third line is to match the lyrics 'We'll move out of the shelter', showing that the girl still has high hopes and is staying optimistic. Things start to go wrong when the lyrics state, 'And I got a job that pays all our bills You stay out drinking late at the bar'.
In the fourth and final line of post-it notes, the pictures illustrates 'See more of your friends than you do of your kids, I'd always hoped for better'. This shows how sadly, nothing turned out better than before, and her life is still messed up.
Non-linear
I decided to keep the post-it notes in the same lines and swap the lines around, so that the narrative would not be too confusing. In this narrative, it starts with the couple being too different and breaking up (line 1). The women then has a flashback of when they started to make a life together, and how things had quite quickly started to go wrong(line 2). She then thinks about how she got her hopes up to be rescued by him(line 3). Finally she has one last flashback to how messed up her life was before the man, but sadly she is in a similar situation again (line 4).
Firth in 1988 stated that music videos can be characterised by 3 broad typologies; Performance, Narrative and Conceptual.
This video is an example of Firth's typology conceptual, because metaphors have been used to create a mood and offer multiple meanings. For example. the colours may symbolise the artist's mood or the chaos taking over. There is not a strong narrative although there is lip-syncing, but the artist approach to the music video is what catches the audiences attention.
Firth's theory of the performance typology can be applied to this music video. The video has no narrative and focuses clearly on the band's performance, hence showing viewers that the recording of the music is the most important element. Vintage trouble are a blues/alternative rock band so the performance approach to music videos allow the band to express their meaningful lyrics, whilst also making fans want to see the band live.
This music video fits into Firth's 1988 typology narrative, this video is a linear love story which is most common. Lip syncing is used and visuals also fit the lyrics. This music video also fits Schwichtenberg's theory in 1992, he states, 'action in the story is dominated by males who do things and females who passively react or wait for something to happen'. In this video the male artist is seen to be superior, because a range of low angle shots are used and he has strong movements, along with being associated in fast cars. There are lingering shots on the females legs and she does not look directly at the camera. This gives the audience a voyueristic view of the female in this music video.
Steve Archer had a theory in 2004 and stated that often music videos will cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by the band. The music video for 'Gives You Hell' by All American Rejects fits this theory. For the artist is part of the story acting as a narrator and participant at the same time. Lip sync close ups are the miming of the playing instruments remains at the heart of music videos, as if to assure the band can really kick it. Also in Steve Archer's theory he mentions that a carefully choreographed dance might be part of the artist's performance, but that can not be applied to this music video.
The narrative of this music video is a linear-narrative and is about two neighbours and one house being neat and calm and one being wild and fun. At the beginning of the narrative this is immediately clear by the colour codes used. One house is colourful and vibrant, which looks energetic and lively. In contrast the other house is in calm neutral colours suggesting plain ordinary and boring personality. The setting of the first minute of the music video is set at night time, which fits the lyrics, 'I wake up every evening'. The neighbours in the brightly coloured house are then performing the song, which ties in performance into the narrative. The lead singer of the band is the main character in the narration, and both 'neighbours' are played by him.
Without the music video, the song may be interpreted as being about the emotions felt when there is hatred, such as after a break up or after a fight. When seeing the music video with the song, people may have different reactions to the deeper meaning. The lead singer plays two main characters, the man living in the fun house, and the man living in the perfect house. This may represent two different sides of himself, maybe what he is like and what he aspires to be like. The visuals narrate the lyrics throughout, such as, 'and where's that shiny car, did it ever get you far?' The miss-en-scene denotates a perfect house, new car, a smartly dressed successful couple with the wife making freshly squezzed lemondade. The connotations of this is the American Dream is not as great as it seems, because life is meant to be fun and exciting too. At 1.08 the man who is from the perfect house starts singing, ''Do you know where you are? And truth be told I miss you, and truth be told I'm lying'. This backs up the idea that the narrative is about two different sides of one person. There is also a shot of homemade lemonade being poured, and then a shot of music being turned up louder, contrasting lives. This music video is a perfect example of music videos cutting between narrative and performance.
