Low angle shot
Sam and I will use a low angle shot when filming the band performing on stage. We think that this will have a realistic effect as the audience will look up to the band which creates the impression that the band are stars - theory of Richard Dyer.
We will also use a low angle shot of the car, as with a block red car, it will look effective on screen. We also used a low angle shot through the steering wheel of the car, this looked effective as it was an unusual shot to create.
High angle shot
A high angle shot will be used during filming the band on stage as the audience will then see both the band playing on stage and the crowd dancing. This will be a difficult shot to film but it will look realistic.
Long shot
Sam and I will use plenty of long shots during our music video. The majority will be used during the scene on Stapleford highstreet. This way, the audience can see the entire location. We think that by filming from a long shot and the singer walking towards the camera looks professional. We have used this technique often, from several different angles.
Medium shot
We have tried to avoid using medium shots during our music video as we wanted to either set the scene with a long shot or express emotion through close up shots. The camera may have filmed the band during playing on stage as the audience can see each band member that filled the screen.
Close up shot
Sam and I have tried to use as many close up shots as possible as we feel that this is the only way the characters can express emotion. Particularly when characters are singing. This can create a connection between the audience and the star (Richard Dyer's theory)Sam and I have also used close up shot during the car scene, as by maintaining a prolonged close up shot, the audience are drawn to continue watching the film.
Extreme close up
We used an extreme close up shot during the bands performance - on the guitar. Sam and I filmed two separate shots of different angles of the strings. This looked effective as the beat of the music matched the movement of the guitar.
Written by Hollie
Sunday 20 September 2009
Friday 11 September 2009
Camera Angle Positions
During the performance scene of our video, we will place the cameras in several different angles so we can create different effects through the camera.
Written by Hollie
Written by Hollie
Thursday 10 September 2009
Track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SHFHjXqLbo
Sam and I both decided we wanted a song which could provide a strong narrative. As a result we knew a song with lyrics was neccessary. We had also decided on an indie rock genre as we believed that this type of music would be easiest to film to with the resources available. Sam and I researched into many different unsigned bands using the site www.unsigned.com as can be seen below.
Unfortunately we could not find a suitable band so decided to aim for signed bands. We knew we had to gain permission so e-mailed different bands and the appropiate contact. These included 'The Subways', 'Gaslight Anthem' and 'Jamie T. After receiving a positive response from 'The Subways' we decided on the track 'All or Nothing'.
We looked in depth st the lyrics and developed several ideas about the track and the narrative we could produce. We know we needed a strong link between the lyrics and the video. Sam and I both decided that this song was the most appropiate.
Written by Hollie
Sam and I both decided we wanted a song which could provide a strong narrative. As a result we knew a song with lyrics was neccessary. We had also decided on an indie rock genre as we believed that this type of music would be easiest to film to with the resources available. Sam and I researched into many different unsigned bands using the site www.unsigned.com as can be seen below.
Unfortunately we could not find a suitable band so decided to aim for signed bands. We knew we had to gain permission so e-mailed different bands and the appropiate contact. These included 'The Subways', 'Gaslight Anthem' and 'Jamie T. After receiving a positive response from 'The Subways' we decided on the track 'All or Nothing'.
We looked in depth st the lyrics and developed several ideas about the track and the narrative we could produce. We know we needed a strong link between the lyrics and the video. Sam and I both decided that this song was the most appropiate.
Written by Hollie
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment
When filming our thriller, we need to consider safety issues.
1. Make sure when driving it is an empty road- This is due to the driver having to look at the camera is filming. It is important that we don't put other drivers at risk.
2. We will make sure our equipment is not obstructing the public when filming in a street.
3. We will not be loud and disturb the public- Our location is not extremely close to any housing estates so it would be difficult to disturb anyone
4. We will not make the driver use the camera at the same time as driving.
5. We will only let qualified drivers drive the cars at all times.
6. Tripod – We will make sure the tripod is on stable ground and there is no risk of it falling so it will not fall and hit anyone.
7. When filming the concert scene we will not overcrowd the room as this can be dangerous.
8. Using Camera- When using the camera to try and minimise damage we will use a tripod.
9. Bad weather damaging equipment- Before filming we will have to check the weather. If it is raining it is obvious that this would damage electrical equipment, also windy conditions would make the tripod unstable so this would have to be taken in to consideration.
Written by Sam
When filming our thriller, we need to consider safety issues.
1. Make sure when driving it is an empty road- This is due to the driver having to look at the camera is filming. It is important that we don't put other drivers at risk.
2. We will make sure our equipment is not obstructing the public when filming in a street.
3. We will not be loud and disturb the public- Our location is not extremely close to any housing estates so it would be difficult to disturb anyone
4. We will not make the driver use the camera at the same time as driving.
5. We will only let qualified drivers drive the cars at all times.
6. Tripod – We will make sure the tripod is on stable ground and there is no risk of it falling so it will not fall and hit anyone.
7. When filming the concert scene we will not overcrowd the room as this can be dangerous.
8. Using Camera- When using the camera to try and minimise damage we will use a tripod.
9. Bad weather damaging equipment- Before filming we will have to check the weather. If it is raining it is obvious that this would damage electrical equipment, also windy conditions would make the tripod unstable so this would have to be taken in to consideration.
Written by Sam
Treatment
The outline for a story is based around a couple who are reflecting on their past time together. We are aiming to link the lyrics in with the story and use flashbacks in order to do this. The male, who is portrayed as the lead singer of the band has lost his girlfriend and is reflecting on what time was like with her. We show at the beginning him spending time with his friends however he does not seem happy and appears as if something is missing. His friends are laughing and joking with him in the car however we aim to portray him as distracted and not joining in with the laughter.
It is clear through the video that he misses the time they spent together. We then cut to him travelling in his car alone in order to reflect his loneliness. The ex boyfriend then begins to reflect on pastimes he had with her. Hollie and I plan to use flashbacks in order to emphasise this point, where we will reflecting on key moments in their relationship. These include them having fun together and breaking up. When they are having fun it coincides with the lyrics 'these days are dead and gone'.
These times are contrasted as the girlfriend is faded out signifying the couple breaking up, something which the lead singer obviously regrets and reflects in his lyrics, 'regrets are all excuses to be bad'. Throughout the video the girlfriend is shown with her new boyfriend, and at two points during the promo the main male sees them together with the envy clear to see.
During one of these clips a shot reverse shot of both facial expressions will be used so the audience are able to see both peoples feelings on how they feel about the situation. This is during the male playing a concert while his ex grilfriend is watching. This links in nicely with the idea of the band performing. On the other clip, slow motion is used which conveys the girl looking back at the male when she walks past him in the street with her new boyfriend.
During the next chorus the video focuses on the girlfriend and how she feels about it. The main male looks in his rear view mirror and the shot cuts to the woman holiding her head in her hands showing her despair and confusion, we then cut back to the main singer in order to convey it is his words that are adding to the confusion and it portrays to the audience that this song is aimed at her. The next verse brings all 3 people in to the same scene.
We aim to portray the main males determination to win her back as he continues to appear in her life. Again we will focus on her reaction with a close up when she realises he is in sight of her. These shots are aimed to be fast paced in order to try and keep up with the tempo of the music and signify to the audience that the story is reaching the climax.
During the final chorus of the song the song title finally appears to have some relevance. The ex boyfriends feelings become clear to the audience and it becomes 'all or nothing' for him. The final thing to become clear for the audience is the destination of his journey. The camera cuts to him knocking on his ex girlfriends door. The story is then lieft on a cliffhanger as he knocks on the door and it fades to black.
Written by Sam
It is clear through the video that he misses the time they spent together. We then cut to him travelling in his car alone in order to reflect his loneliness. The ex boyfriend then begins to reflect on pastimes he had with her. Hollie and I plan to use flashbacks in order to emphasise this point, where we will reflecting on key moments in their relationship. These include them having fun together and breaking up. When they are having fun it coincides with the lyrics 'these days are dead and gone'.
These times are contrasted as the girlfriend is faded out signifying the couple breaking up, something which the lead singer obviously regrets and reflects in his lyrics, 'regrets are all excuses to be bad'. Throughout the video the girlfriend is shown with her new boyfriend, and at two points during the promo the main male sees them together with the envy clear to see.
During one of these clips a shot reverse shot of both facial expressions will be used so the audience are able to see both peoples feelings on how they feel about the situation. This is during the male playing a concert while his ex grilfriend is watching. This links in nicely with the idea of the band performing. On the other clip, slow motion is used which conveys the girl looking back at the male when she walks past him in the street with her new boyfriend.
During the next chorus the video focuses on the girlfriend and how she feels about it. The main male looks in his rear view mirror and the shot cuts to the woman holiding her head in her hands showing her despair and confusion, we then cut back to the main singer in order to convey it is his words that are adding to the confusion and it portrays to the audience that this song is aimed at her. The next verse brings all 3 people in to the same scene.
We aim to portray the main males determination to win her back as he continues to appear in her life. Again we will focus on her reaction with a close up when she realises he is in sight of her. These shots are aimed to be fast paced in order to try and keep up with the tempo of the music and signify to the audience that the story is reaching the climax.
During the final chorus of the song the song title finally appears to have some relevance. The ex boyfriends feelings become clear to the audience and it becomes 'all or nothing' for him. The final thing to become clear for the audience is the destination of his journey. The camera cuts to him knocking on his ex girlfriends door. The story is then lieft on a cliffhanger as he knocks on the door and it fades to black.
Written by Sam
Questionnaire
Sam and I both conducted a questionnaire focusing on our target audience in order to gain a better knowledge of what people look for in an indie rock music video. We did this based on our initial ideas brainstorm so we were able to gain some reaction.
1. How often do you watch music videos?
Everyday- 15
Every few days-6
Once A week-3
Hardly Ever- 0
2.What makes you watch them?
Storyline- 5
Other peoples recommendation- 12
The actual music track- 8
3.What theme do you prefer in music videos?
Story- 13
Comedy- 6
Dancing-6
Other- 0
4.Which of the two following music videos, which do you prefer?
Supergrass- Alright- 12
Nirvana- Smells like teen spirit- 13
5.What type of music do you prefer?
Hip-hop- 4
Indie rock- 9
Rock- 5
Rap- 3
R 'n' b- 4
Jazz- 0
6. Do you prefer music videos with performance in?
Yes- 18
No- 7
7. Who would you expect to see acting in the music video?
All of the band- 8
Lead singer/ singers- 14
None of the band- 3
8. Would you be disappointed if a music video finished on a cliffhanger?
Yes-3
No- 22
9. What type of plot would you prefer to see?
Complex Storyline- 3
Mysterious stories- 9
Straightforward story- 6
Unresolved stories-6
10. How many main characters would you expect to see?
1- 9
2- 7
3- 5
4- 3
5+- 1
In order to try and make our video as popular as possible Sam and I knew it was vital to analyse the results and alter our plans accordingly.
From the above results you can see that we attempted to ask as many people as possible who watched music videos frequently. As a result , the majority of the people who answered our questionnaire were people who were familiar with music videos and therefore had a good knowledge of what they feel makes a good video.
We both also felt it was important to see what interested the people to watch the video.
The most popular choice here was other peoples recommendation. This is interesting for both Sam and I, as it gives us an indication of the importance of promoting the video. This will be done through the website which we are going to design and it conveys the importance of marketing the video so it is able to spread through word of mouth. The theme in music videos is often what catches the viewers attention. From our questionnaire Sam and I noticed that people prefer music videos which have some sort of storyline, compared to those where the main focus is dancing.
This is encouraging for Sam and I as our initial idea is based around a storyline which continues throughout the song. 2 of the 4 music videos which Sam and I analysed were 'Supergrass- Alright' and 'Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit', as these videos had become familiar to us both. As a result, both were evenly popular, again this can be seen as encouraging as it indicates that our target audience are quite open minded when viewing videos. The music video that we have chosen to do is an indie rock video so Sam and I both knew that it would be important to confirm that our target audience are interested in the genre.
After analysing the results for this particular question it became clear to us that indie rock was indeed a popular choice. This is important for us, as a lot if viewers will only continue to watch the video if it falls into the genre they like. Another key question we needed to analyse was weather audiences enjoyed seeing an element of performance linked in with the video.
The outcome clearly portrayed to both Sam and I that performance was very popular in music videos, this was something which initially we were not going to put in to our video, however after analysing the results it has become clear that linking in an element of performance is vital. During our initial idea we were going to include the two main singers in the band in our video. After asking people it became clear that this was a suitable amount of band members to include in the main part of the video. The ending of our video was initially going to be a cliffhanger.
We both wanted to make sure that this wouldn't be classed as a disappointment to our audience and again, after asking them the majority stated that they would not mind if the video did end on a cliffhanger. The final thing we wanted to clarify was weather the complexity of the storyline used effects the audience. We noticed that most preferred stories with few characters and ones that were straight forward to follow. This is useful information for both Sam and I as it agrees with our initial ideas.
Written by Sam
1. How often do you watch music videos?
Everyday- 15
Every few days-6
Once A week-3
Hardly Ever- 0
2.What makes you watch them?
Storyline- 5
Other peoples recommendation- 12
The actual music track- 8
3.What theme do you prefer in music videos?
Story- 13
Comedy- 6
Dancing-6
Other- 0
4.Which of the two following music videos, which do you prefer?
Supergrass- Alright- 12
Nirvana- Smells like teen spirit- 13
5.What type of music do you prefer?
Hip-hop- 4
Indie rock- 9
Rock- 5
Rap- 3
R 'n' b- 4
Jazz- 0
6. Do you prefer music videos with performance in?
Yes- 18
No- 7
7. Who would you expect to see acting in the music video?
All of the band- 8
Lead singer/ singers- 14
None of the band- 3
8. Would you be disappointed if a music video finished on a cliffhanger?
Yes-3
No- 22
9. What type of plot would you prefer to see?
Complex Storyline- 3
Mysterious stories- 9
Straightforward story- 6
Unresolved stories-6
10. How many main characters would you expect to see?
1- 9
2- 7
3- 5
4- 3
5+- 1
In order to try and make our video as popular as possible Sam and I knew it was vital to analyse the results and alter our plans accordingly.
From the above results you can see that we attempted to ask as many people as possible who watched music videos frequently. As a result , the majority of the people who answered our questionnaire were people who were familiar with music videos and therefore had a good knowledge of what they feel makes a good video.
We both also felt it was important to see what interested the people to watch the video.
The most popular choice here was other peoples recommendation. This is interesting for both Sam and I, as it gives us an indication of the importance of promoting the video. This will be done through the website which we are going to design and it conveys the importance of marketing the video so it is able to spread through word of mouth. The theme in music videos is often what catches the viewers attention. From our questionnaire Sam and I noticed that people prefer music videos which have some sort of storyline, compared to those where the main focus is dancing.
This is encouraging for Sam and I as our initial idea is based around a storyline which continues throughout the song. 2 of the 4 music videos which Sam and I analysed were 'Supergrass- Alright' and 'Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit', as these videos had become familiar to us both. As a result, both were evenly popular, again this can be seen as encouraging as it indicates that our target audience are quite open minded when viewing videos. The music video that we have chosen to do is an indie rock video so Sam and I both knew that it would be important to confirm that our target audience are interested in the genre.
After analysing the results for this particular question it became clear to us that indie rock was indeed a popular choice. This is important for us, as a lot if viewers will only continue to watch the video if it falls into the genre they like. Another key question we needed to analyse was weather audiences enjoyed seeing an element of performance linked in with the video.
The outcome clearly portrayed to both Sam and I that performance was very popular in music videos, this was something which initially we were not going to put in to our video, however after analysing the results it has become clear that linking in an element of performance is vital. During our initial idea we were going to include the two main singers in the band in our video. After asking people it became clear that this was a suitable amount of band members to include in the main part of the video. The ending of our video was initially going to be a cliffhanger.
We both wanted to make sure that this wouldn't be classed as a disappointment to our audience and again, after asking them the majority stated that they would not mind if the video did end on a cliffhanger. The final thing we wanted to clarify was weather the complexity of the storyline used effects the audience. We noticed that most preferred stories with few characters and ones that were straight forward to follow. This is useful information for both Sam and I as it agrees with our initial ideas.
Written by Sam
Website research
The homepage of the band 'The Killers' is there to try and market the band. The first thing that stands out on the page is the name of the band, this is helpful as it will stick in the persons mind and they will immediately relate it to the band
This is something which Sam and I want to try and integrate into our websites as one of the aims will be to promote the band. Furthermore, the background image shown below, on the homepage is another example of iconography. The image is similar to the album cover for the bands album 'Day And Age' which is show below, and again in order to promote the band the image is there to try and gain the audiences attention, consequently when the image is seen in the shop they are able to instantaneously relate it to the band. Again, this is the idea of iconography something which Hollie and I are wanting to base are website around. We both think that as pictures of the band are important, it is not as vital as images which relate to the bands products.
The homepage is relatively plain which encourages the audience to concentrate on the bands name and the album image. There is a news feed as shown below, which I believe is a good idea but it should only take up minimal space on the homepage in order to not diver the audiences attention away from the main icons, such as the bands name and the background image.
The font used to display the different links on the webpage is very contrasting to that of the website. As you can see from the image below silver is seen as a unique colour on the homepage and it is able to stand out from the website. By doing this, the layout looks clearer and easier to read. This certainly something Sam and I need to consider when designing our website as a clear layout we believe is vital. Furthermore, the different link options on the homepage our seen as being 'indie' and therefore attract the attention and will make the audience curious to see what happends when clicked. As you can see below, terms like 'sweet talk' and 'the victims' can be seen to be aimed at the younger audience, something which Sam and I will be aiming to do.
Arctic Monkeys
The Arctic Monkeys homepage is similar in the layout to The Killers, Sam and I will be trying to aim to find the right balance between the two. Instead of using a background image The Arctic Monkeys use a plain black background and then contrast it with white font.
This is true for the whole web page apart from the bands name and the links available at the top of the page. By doing this, it is the bands name which stands out above anything and is bought to the audiences attention. This is able to then stick in the audiences mind and they will remember the bands name.A key difference between the title and the website is the change in font. Again this sets apart the bands title away from the rest of the webpage. The actual font chosen is seen as being very 'indie' and certainly helps it stand out. It also links in to the idea of youthfulness, which falls in to Dyer's theory on stardom. Furthermore it enables them to reflect their music genre and aim it at their target audience by using an alternative style.Furthermore, by having the links available the website looks clearer and is easy to navigate around for the audience. The layout is vital in a website, and Sam and I will be aiming to create a layout which is easy to view for the audience, and will hopefully use basic colours similar to the the ones used on the Arctic Monkeys website. The links themselves are mostly different font sizes with the larger ones aiming at promoting the bands. These include 'gigs', 'releases', 'photos', 'videos'. All of these links are there to try and promote the bands income, and again this is a factor that Hollie and I find important.
On the homepage there some of the more important links are expanded into more detail so the audience are able to see what is contained in each link. Again these are the main promotional links, which include gigs which is shown on the right, album releases, news and a blog. The title of each link is again in the exact same font as it was shown under the Arctic Monkeys title. This adds to the impressive layout of the website and again makes it easier for the audience to navigate around. The text underneath the titles is very basic and contrasts highly with the title. Although this would seem a bit plain and boring, I believe it contrasts well and makes the layout seem easy on the eye and makes the text easier to read for the audience. The font used can be seen in the image on the right.
The promotion continues on the homepage with an image of their album. Again with the dark background the album image stands out to the audience so the image stands out in their head. This is important as it then becomes easier to recognise in shops if they wish to purchase.
The way the album isn't presented as clearly as in 'The Killers' website, where they use the whole background image, however Sam and I believe that contrasting it with the background increases the chances of the audience recognizing the album.Written by Sam
Song Permission
In order to used a video we had to gain permission from the band to use their track. Sam and I e-mailed Ben Kirby, the appropiate contact for the ban 'The Subways' who e-mailed us with a selection of songs to choose from.
Written by Sam
Written by Sam
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Props
The prop that will be mostly used in the video will be Sam's mini.
This car looks quirky and will stand out in the video, it is an old model and will look unique, but will suit the impression the band is trying to make.
Unfortunately, during filming, Sams mini was not as reliable as we first predicted and thought it would be safer to change to another car. This small, red polo will still conform to the bands image as red is a colour that will stand out on camera.
Another prop that will be used is the electric guitar that will be played during the concert. The electric guitar is a status symbol for the band and will look realistic.
I have also taken a picture of the drums as a band member can also be playing in the background.
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Written by Hollie
This car looks quirky and will stand out in the video, it is an old model and will look unique, but will suit the impression the band is trying to make.
Unfortunately, during filming, Sams mini was not as reliable as we first predicted and thought it would be safer to change to another car. This small, red polo will still conform to the bands image as red is a colour that will stand out on camera.
Another prop that will be used is the electric guitar that will be played during the concert. The electric guitar is a status symbol for the band and will look realistic.
I have also taken a picture of the drums as a band member can also be playing in the background.
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Written by Hollie
Location
Sam and I have decided to film our music video in several different locations
The first location is walking out of a house door into the car. We do not need any permission as we will use sams house.
We will then film our video down Stapleford high street, this is a local location which we can easily arrange filming as it is nearby and easy to access. We can film the walking scene which included both the girlfriend and boyfriend with the main singer Ishot. By using a narrow shot, it looks effective and realistic.
The girlfriends house towards the end of the video is going to be my house. I have a long drive which will look effective when the car is driving closer to the house. I also have a step to my front door which will instantly create a low angel shot which will portray the girlfriend to be superior and powerful.
Written by Hollie
The first location is walking out of a house door into the car. We do not need any permission as we will use sams house.
We will then film our video down Stapleford high street, this is a local location which we can easily arrange filming as it is nearby and easy to access. We can film the walking scene which included both the girlfriend and boyfriend with the main singer Ishot. By using a narrow shot, it looks effective and realistic.
The girlfriends house towards the end of the video is going to be my house. I have a long drive which will look effective when the car is driving closer to the house. I also have a step to my front door which will instantly create a low angel shot which will portray the girlfriend to be superior and powerful.
Written by Hollie
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Actors
Main singer- Sam Gibbons
We have decided that Sam is the best actor for this role as Sam and I have clear ideas on how we want the main singer to be portrayed to the audience. By using ourselves, we can act exactly how we intended the video to be shot. Sam also passed an expressive arts GCSE which included acting in a group and independently. As we are filming the video together, I can film whilst Sam acts, this will work as Sam can also play the guitar.
Sam also has longish hair which fits into the genre of indie rock. We can also discuss what looks good and which scene don't work without asking for the actor to repeat his performance. Another positive is that we will not have to organise many people to come and film our video as Sam and I will always be available.
Friend 1 - Tom Bryant
Sam and I have chosen Tom Bryant as an actor in our music video. Tom is sensible and is reliable which is a positive as we may need him to film more than once. Tom also achieved an expressive arts GCSE and used to attend stage coach during year 8. This is not a large part and doesnt require any learning of the song words.
Friend 2 - Toby Wort
Toby acted in mine and Sam's Thriller during our AS level as put on a good performance as the main male role. Toby is reliable and fits into the conventions of a band member. He can also play the guitar and drums which will be useful when the band is playing on stage. Toby lives nearby and can attend filming sessions as he has no important committments which may hinder filming. Toby achieved a GCSE in Expressive Arts in year 9, there giving us proof that he can act well.
Girlfriend - Hollie Liddington
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I have chosen myself to play the part of the girlfriend - as we have discussed with Sam Gibbons. Sam and I both have a clear idea as to what effect the girlfriend has to have in the video. This saves explaining to an actor how we would like it to be represented. I have also passed a GCSE in Expressive Arts. Whilst I am acting, Sam can film. I can easily style my hair to the desired look. I will also attend every filming session so attendance will not be a problem.
Boyfriend - Jack Cockrill
Sam and I have decided on using Jack Cockrill as the boyfriend of the girl in the music video. Jack is very striking looking, therefore he will be remembered. Jack is also taller than me, therefore he will look more masculine in the video. Jack used to attend stage coach with Sam Holloway in year 8 therefore, he will take the role seriously. Jack also lives reasonably nearby so travelling to filming will not be a problem. Jack will remain sensible throughout filming.
People at the concert - our collegues in our media class.
During the scene with the band playing on stage. We will use the drama room as we can create a temporary stage to stand on. Our media class will be happy to jump to the music. We will film this scene during school time so we can use as many people it takes to fill the room with people to give the impression of a band playing at a gig. The scene is very informal so acting skills will not be required. Concerts are full of laughing and people having a good time which we think will look effective.
Written by Hollie
We have decided that Sam is the best actor for this role as Sam and I have clear ideas on how we want the main singer to be portrayed to the audience. By using ourselves, we can act exactly how we intended the video to be shot. Sam also passed an expressive arts GCSE which included acting in a group and independently. As we are filming the video together, I can film whilst Sam acts, this will work as Sam can also play the guitar.
Sam also has longish hair which fits into the genre of indie rock. We can also discuss what looks good and which scene don't work without asking for the actor to repeat his performance. Another positive is that we will not have to organise many people to come and film our video as Sam and I will always be available.
Friend 1 - Tom Bryant
Sam and I have chosen Tom Bryant as an actor in our music video. Tom is sensible and is reliable which is a positive as we may need him to film more than once. Tom also achieved an expressive arts GCSE and used to attend stage coach during year 8. This is not a large part and doesnt require any learning of the song words.
Friend 2 - Toby Wort
Toby acted in mine and Sam's Thriller during our AS level as put on a good performance as the main male role. Toby is reliable and fits into the conventions of a band member. He can also play the guitar and drums which will be useful when the band is playing on stage. Toby lives nearby and can attend filming sessions as he has no important committments which may hinder filming. Toby achieved a GCSE in Expressive Arts in year 9, there giving us proof that he can act well.
Girlfriend - Hollie Liddington
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I have chosen myself to play the part of the girlfriend - as we have discussed with Sam Gibbons. Sam and I both have a clear idea as to what effect the girlfriend has to have in the video. This saves explaining to an actor how we would like it to be represented. I have also passed a GCSE in Expressive Arts. Whilst I am acting, Sam can film. I can easily style my hair to the desired look. I will also attend every filming session so attendance will not be a problem.
Boyfriend - Jack Cockrill
Sam and I have decided on using Jack Cockrill as the boyfriend of the girl in the music video. Jack is very striking looking, therefore he will be remembered. Jack is also taller than me, therefore he will look more masculine in the video. Jack used to attend stage coach with Sam Holloway in year 8 therefore, he will take the role seriously. Jack also lives reasonably nearby so travelling to filming will not be a problem. Jack will remain sensible throughout filming.
People at the concert - our collegues in our media class.
During the scene with the band playing on stage. We will use the drama room as we can create a temporary stage to stand on. Our media class will be happy to jump to the music. We will film this scene during school time so we can use as many people it takes to fill the room with people to give the impression of a band playing at a gig. The scene is very informal so acting skills will not be required. Concerts are full of laughing and people having a good time which we think will look effective.
Written by Hollie
Monday 7 September 2009
Analysis of existing CD covers
Kings of Leon
Image
This CD cover is striking as it uses a bold black cover with a contrasting white lightbulb in the center. By using a smashed lightbulb in the middle, that grabs the audiences attention, it connotes that the music on the album is destructive. But despite the smashed lightbulb, electricity is still flowing through. This contrasting yellow within the white of the glass may show to the audience that the music will be full of life and energy. By only having the one picture on the album cover, it focuses attention on the bands name which is also in bright white.
Font
The font on the CD cover is minimal but matches the black and white colour scheme. The bands name; "Kings of Leon" is in a bright white, glowing font. This is so the audience can instantly recognise the bands name and therefore buy the album. The serif font of the text shows that it is informal and attracts attention. The name is also in the top left hand corner which is usually where the audience will begin to read from. The font of the album name is in a slightly smaller font. It is also in a brown font which stands out slightly from the black background, but not to an extent where it is the first thing the customer notices about the cover. There is no other text such as reviews or names on the cover as the cover looks more impressive when there is less detail.
Layout
The layout is simplistic which is a familiar convention of DVD and CD covers as it indie/rock bands prefer to be recognised by their music and not their image. By having the band and album title along the top, it takes up a small amount of space so the lightbulb can stand out on the shelves.
Content
There is no content or reviews on the album cover at all. The design of the cover is minimalistic therefore only the lightbulb and the band name is shown.
Death Cab For Cutie
Image
The slightly blurred image gives connotations of indie/rock genre as the contrast in colours represent the contrast in music. The colour red that is used in the centre of the cover, is often associated with death and danger which is explored through their music. Red and green are complimentary colours. By combining these two shades on top of a black background, the album cover instantly stands out on the shelves. In the background of the main image, dim lights are shown in the building which may show a mysterious side to their music.
Font
A variation of fonts are used on the cover. The album cover 'Plans' is written in a bold serif font, by using this convention of the name being in the centre instantly tells the audience the name of the album. It is emphasised through using a large font which is around four times the size of the band name. The band name 'death cab for cutie' is written directly below the name of the album. There are no capitals used in the bands name which shows a clear comparison. The name of the band is filled with solid white colour, unlike the album name 'Plans'- as it is filled with a transluscent white, therefore the picture can be seen through slightly.
Layout
The layout of the CD cover shows the text being in the centre of the cover. The white text is directly infront of where the two contrasting colours meet- which brings the audiences attention to the name of the CD album. The dim lights are also running down the centre which again, draws the audience's eye down to the name. The image used is unusual which doesnt focus attention to the image itself and more onto the band name itself.
Chasing Status
Image
The image on the album cover consists of a variety of small images which include the artists and who the album features. (In this case - Kano). There is no main image which grabs the attention of the audience but by having pictures of the artists, the customer may recognise them and therefore buy the album because of this. This is a different way to attract a customer - through fame rather than the music itself. The images are spread out in both corners of the album cover, this is so that the artists are not in direct competition with one another. A small convertable car is also shown after the text, which gives the cover a 'cool', edgy feel. There is also at the bottom of the screen, a line of silhouetted buildings line the album cover. The background image gives the impression of a quirky, spraypainted wall of orange and black with paint dripping down - this look appeals to both sexes of a young age.
Font
The font used to a large serif font which capitalises both the artist name and the album cover. The album name 'Against all odds' uses a quirky font which uses the A's to give the impression of the number 4. This gives a different impression as it looks more like a number plate rather than a font. The name of the two artists are written in a slightly rounder font - this shows a contrast from the featured artist- 'Kano' that is written at the bottom of the album name in a small, digital font. 'Chase and Status' has an outline which instantly tells the audience who the CD is representing.
Layout
The layout of the album cover is spread out equally. The center of the album consists of a small amount of text in the center. It is then framed with images of the artists and a small convertable car. This is a simple layout but it is catchy as the bold, bright orange, jet black and block white mix together to stand out on the shop shelves.
Content
There is not much content on the front of the CD cover as there are no reviews or opinions on the music. They have taken a minimal approach to the content.
Written by Hollie
Image
This CD cover is striking as it uses a bold black cover with a contrasting white lightbulb in the center. By using a smashed lightbulb in the middle, that grabs the audiences attention, it connotes that the music on the album is destructive. But despite the smashed lightbulb, electricity is still flowing through. This contrasting yellow within the white of the glass may show to the audience that the music will be full of life and energy. By only having the one picture on the album cover, it focuses attention on the bands name which is also in bright white.
Font
The font on the CD cover is minimal but matches the black and white colour scheme. The bands name; "Kings of Leon" is in a bright white, glowing font. This is so the audience can instantly recognise the bands name and therefore buy the album. The serif font of the text shows that it is informal and attracts attention. The name is also in the top left hand corner which is usually where the audience will begin to read from. The font of the album name is in a slightly smaller font. It is also in a brown font which stands out slightly from the black background, but not to an extent where it is the first thing the customer notices about the cover. There is no other text such as reviews or names on the cover as the cover looks more impressive when there is less detail.
Layout
The layout is simplistic which is a familiar convention of DVD and CD covers as it indie/rock bands prefer to be recognised by their music and not their image. By having the band and album title along the top, it takes up a small amount of space so the lightbulb can stand out on the shelves.
Content
There is no content or reviews on the album cover at all. The design of the cover is minimalistic therefore only the lightbulb and the band name is shown.
Death Cab For Cutie
Image
The slightly blurred image gives connotations of indie/rock genre as the contrast in colours represent the contrast in music. The colour red that is used in the centre of the cover, is often associated with death and danger which is explored through their music. Red and green are complimentary colours. By combining these two shades on top of a black background, the album cover instantly stands out on the shelves. In the background of the main image, dim lights are shown in the building which may show a mysterious side to their music.
Font
A variation of fonts are used on the cover. The album cover 'Plans' is written in a bold serif font, by using this convention of the name being in the centre instantly tells the audience the name of the album. It is emphasised through using a large font which is around four times the size of the band name. The band name 'death cab for cutie' is written directly below the name of the album. There are no capitals used in the bands name which shows a clear comparison. The name of the band is filled with solid white colour, unlike the album name 'Plans'- as it is filled with a transluscent white, therefore the picture can be seen through slightly.
Layout
The layout of the CD cover shows the text being in the centre of the cover. The white text is directly infront of where the two contrasting colours meet- which brings the audiences attention to the name of the CD album. The dim lights are also running down the centre which again, draws the audience's eye down to the name. The image used is unusual which doesnt focus attention to the image itself and more onto the band name itself.
Chasing Status
Image
The image on the album cover consists of a variety of small images which include the artists and who the album features. (In this case - Kano). There is no main image which grabs the attention of the audience but by having pictures of the artists, the customer may recognise them and therefore buy the album because of this. This is a different way to attract a customer - through fame rather than the music itself. The images are spread out in both corners of the album cover, this is so that the artists are not in direct competition with one another. A small convertable car is also shown after the text, which gives the cover a 'cool', edgy feel. There is also at the bottom of the screen, a line of silhouetted buildings line the album cover. The background image gives the impression of a quirky, spraypainted wall of orange and black with paint dripping down - this look appeals to both sexes of a young age.
Font
The font used to a large serif font which capitalises both the artist name and the album cover. The album name 'Against all odds' uses a quirky font which uses the A's to give the impression of the number 4. This gives a different impression as it looks more like a number plate rather than a font. The name of the two artists are written in a slightly rounder font - this shows a contrast from the featured artist- 'Kano' that is written at the bottom of the album name in a small, digital font. 'Chase and Status' has an outline which instantly tells the audience who the CD is representing.
Layout
The layout of the album cover is spread out equally. The center of the album consists of a small amount of text in the center. It is then framed with images of the artists and a small convertable car. This is a simple layout but it is catchy as the bold, bright orange, jet black and block white mix together to stand out on the shop shelves.
Content
There is not much content on the front of the CD cover as there are no reviews or opinions on the music. They have taken a minimal approach to the content.
Written by Hollie
Sunday 6 September 2009
Research into video directors
Samuel Bayer
Samuel Bayer graduated from New York City's School of Visual Arts and has now become one of the most talented music video directors around.
He was a painter who wanted to use his exsisting talents into the music video scene. The first opportunity for this was Nirvanas ''Smells like teen spirit'' is still today as known as one of the most interesting and unique videos ever made. He is known to have a full, hands-on approach, he decided to do mix all conventions when doing a music video,
the lights,
photographs and he also does all the camerawork on projects.
Following his successful directing with Nirvana, he began to produce videos for bands such as The Rolling Stones and Blink 182. He tends to show the band playing the instruments live and incorporates it with different themes.
[http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?first=Samuel&last=Bayer]
For example, in Blink 182's Stay Together For The Kids he adapts a basic idea, of the band playing in an empty warehouse, and contrasts it with different images of various different people.
Recently, Bayer has directed videos for Greenday, with 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' winning awards at the MTV music awards. He also directed Justin Timberlakes 'what goes around comes around', again this was seen to be quite a shocking video with a lot of moving images and unique ideas.
[http://www.samuelbayer.com/bio/]
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze began his career as an assistant editor for a small teenage biking magazine called 'Freestyling'. His first opportunity for music video directing appeared in 1992 where he was given the chance to shoot footage for '100%' by Sonic youth. Spike Jonzes' first real breakthrough as a music video director came when he directed ''Sabotage'' by the Beastie Boys. He took inspiration from a 1970's police T.V programme.
This video managed to win Spike 4 awards at the MTV music awards. Spike Jonze further made a name for himself when he directed Weezers video 'Buddy Holly'. Again he took the idea from a T.V programme, this time it was from the 1970's comedy show Happy Days. Spike Jonze was fast becoming known on the music directing scene for his original and comedic ideas. Jonze continued throughout the 90's to produce videos for some major artists including Puff Daddy and the Chemical Brothers. Spike furthered his talents into the T.V commercial world and produced adverts for companies such as Nike. One of Spikes most famous videos was Fatboy Slims 'Praise You' which won Spike 3 more MTV music awards. Towards the end of the 90's he began to direct movies and acting within movies.
[http://www.locatetv.com/person/spike-jonze/29906]
I personally find Spike Jonzes style exciting and fascinating. The way he takes inspiration from other texts and transfers them to his own is clever and works well. He coincides with the type of music video i want to produce. He is able to provide videos which have comedic value and are able to entertain the audience. His ideas are simple yet effective similar to the videos which I will be hoping to direct. For example, in the video of Praise You by Fatboy Slim the locations and camerawork are so simple, however it was recognised with many awards.
Written by Sam
Samuel Bayer graduated from New York City's School of Visual Arts and has now become one of the most talented music video directors around.
He was a painter who wanted to use his exsisting talents into the music video scene. The first opportunity for this was Nirvanas ''Smells like teen spirit'' is still today as known as one of the most interesting and unique videos ever made. He is known to have a full, hands-on approach, he decided to do mix all conventions when doing a music video,
the lights,
photographs and he also does all the camerawork on projects.
Following his successful directing with Nirvana, he began to produce videos for bands such as The Rolling Stones and Blink 182. He tends to show the band playing the instruments live and incorporates it with different themes.
[http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?first=Samuel&last=Bayer]
For example, in Blink 182's Stay Together For The Kids he adapts a basic idea, of the band playing in an empty warehouse, and contrasts it with different images of various different people.
Recently, Bayer has directed videos for Greenday, with 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' winning awards at the MTV music awards. He also directed Justin Timberlakes 'what goes around comes around', again this was seen to be quite a shocking video with a lot of moving images and unique ideas.
[http://www.samuelbayer.com/bio/]
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze began his career as an assistant editor for a small teenage biking magazine called 'Freestyling'. His first opportunity for music video directing appeared in 1992 where he was given the chance to shoot footage for '100%' by Sonic youth. Spike Jonzes' first real breakthrough as a music video director came when he directed ''Sabotage'' by the Beastie Boys. He took inspiration from a 1970's police T.V programme.
This video managed to win Spike 4 awards at the MTV music awards. Spike Jonze further made a name for himself when he directed Weezers video 'Buddy Holly'. Again he took the idea from a T.V programme, this time it was from the 1970's comedy show Happy Days. Spike Jonze was fast becoming known on the music directing scene for his original and comedic ideas. Jonze continued throughout the 90's to produce videos for some major artists including Puff Daddy and the Chemical Brothers. Spike furthered his talents into the T.V commercial world and produced adverts for companies such as Nike. One of Spikes most famous videos was Fatboy Slims 'Praise You' which won Spike 3 more MTV music awards. Towards the end of the 90's he began to direct movies and acting within movies.
[http://www.locatetv.com/person/spike-jonze/29906]
I personally find Spike Jonzes style exciting and fascinating. The way he takes inspiration from other texts and transfers them to his own is clever and works well. He coincides with the type of music video i want to produce. He is able to provide videos which have comedic value and are able to entertain the audience. His ideas are simple yet effective similar to the videos which I will be hoping to direct. For example, in the video of Praise You by Fatboy Slim the locations and camerawork are so simple, however it was recognised with many awards.
Written by Sam
Analysis of a music video 2
Beyonce feat Jay Z
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i38JRTyMik
As the music begins immediately the camera is shown to be driving down a sunny road in California, with palm trees either side. This conforms to Hebdige's theory of subcultures. The camera cuts to a close up shot of the rapper Jay Z, it shows he is in the back of the car that seems to be travelling down the road. By using a close up shot of the rapper, the audience can see who is being featured in the video with Beyonce. The camera then cuts quickly back to the road, then back to Jay Z before returning to cut back to the road again. The cuts between scenes are in time with the beat of the music. After cutting back to the road Beyonce is seen to be walking towards the camera up the road. She is perceived as a sex symbol as she is wearing a low cut vest top and short shorts.(see picture)
She flicks her hair in the wind. The camera then cuts to a low tracking shot of her high red heels as she continues to strut to the beat of the music. The camera then cuts again to a shot from behind which focuses on her rear – as this is a well known trademark of Beyonce’s. The camera then quickly cuts to a low angle medium shot of Beyonce walking up to what looks like a barn entrance but by cutting to a long shot of Beyonce on the wooden planks it gives the impression to the audience that it is a stage. This conforms to Richard Dyer's theory of stardom. As the idea of the audience looking up to the star, but cannot reach her, gives the singer power.(see picture)
As Beyonce begins to seductively dance on her own, the camera cuts to a close up of Jay Z again before using a low angle panning shot on the singer as she keeps eye contact with the camera constantly, it gives the impression she is drawing in the audience. The height of the camera is level with the singers head as she dances on the floor, therefore connecting with the audience - Dyer's theory - as the audience can connect with the star. The camera then pans back the other way as the eye contact is still maintained.
The camera then zooms out to a long shot where the audience can see the location of Beyonce before quickly cutting to a close up shot, an extreme close up, back to a medium shot of the singer. These quick cuts are in time with the music – which is very fast. This is a common convention used for this pop genre. The pace is then slowed as the music continues it’s fast beat; Beyonce is seen slowly moving her arms and posing for the camera up against a wall, in an attempt to seduce the audience. Four of these shots are used before returning back to the singer performing on the wooden stage. She lies down flat on the stage and the camera rapidly zooms out and out, through the legs of another shot of Beyonce.
In this scene, Beyonce is wearing a much more glamorous outfit as she is wearing a short, fitted gold dress, with lots of gold jewellery and sky scraper heels. A long shot is used to show the audience the difference in location. The superimposed backdrop of New York City is seen and the singer is dancing on a small, rounded stage with spot lights and camera flashes. This is a prime example of Dyer's theory. The theme of this scene is city glam.
Close up shots are used of Beyonce’s face as she sings, each cutting to a close up shot at a different angle, this shows variety, the timing of the camera cuts still remain in time with the beat of the music. A low angle shot is then used which shows that the singer is important and powerful and begins to rotate around her body as she dances. By using a low angle shot when the singer is wearing a short dress and heels makes Beyonce look like a sex symbol. She remains to keep eye contact with the camera as she sings. The camera then quickly cuts back to the first scene of Beyonce lying on the wooden stage before returning to the bright lights. An insert shot is then used as a close up shot of a camera lens is used and Beyonce’s face is seen in the reflection which looks very effective.(see picture)
The camera then cuts back to a medium shot of the singer dancing on stage with paparazzi flashes before cutting to a new scene.
The third scene of the music video is Beyonce strutting towards the camera – similar to the very first scene. But she is wearing more casual clothes. A baseball cap and jacket fit in with the location of an alley where she is walking through. This also conforms to Hebdige's theory of subcultures. She is accompanied by 5 other dancers dressed in baseball jackets. Beyonce still remains to appear sexy as she has her hair down and full make up. The camera cuts back and forth to the previous scene four times before returning to the present location of the alley.
A long shot is then used that shows all the dancers including Beyonce dancing in synchronization with one another.(see picture)
The trademark ‘Beyonce booty shake’ is then shown with all 5 dancers performing the same move. The camera then cuts to a close up of Beyonce’s shaking her ‘booty’ before returning to a medium shot of faces. A close up shot of Beyonce’s face is then used as she walks in and out of the dancers, by maintaining eye contact with the camera, the audience are drawn into the song. This is again a convention used to conform to Dyer's stardom theory as the audience may feel a sense of intimacy. The camera is level with the singers face and by having other dancers pass in front of Beyonce, it gives the impression that the audience are really there with her. She stops, pressed against the wall in a sexy manner as a medium shot is used to show her body language before walking out of shot and into the distance.
A forth scene is then shown of Beyonce trapped in a car, the lighting is dim and the singer looks troubles which makes the audience curious about what is going to happen. The camera position is hidden in the corner and Beyonce is unaware, this is an example of Dyer's intimacy theory, as the audience may feel as though they are looking into Beyonce's private life - therefore they continue to watch. The camera then cuts back to the camera following Beyonce in her baseball jacket and cap and she turns round and blows a large blue bubble at the camera, turns away and walks off the screen. This shows a hint of immaturity which may attract other audiences. The shot then cuts back to Beyonce sitting down at the back of a car. The car has bright orange and yellow covers which contrast with the singer’s dark hair, skin and clothes.(see picture)
This scene is then cut to a long shot showing a shadowy figure in the foreground and the audience can see the car which they assume Beyonce is sat in, in the background. The camera then cuts back to Beyonce in the car before cutting straight to an extreme close up of a lighter being lit – this signifies danger. The camera then cuts back to inside the car where Beyonce can hear the danger she is in. By using this combination of shots, it is as if a story is being told through the song - an easy narrative originates from Archer's theory.
The shadowy figure (Jay Z) then drops the lighter on the floor and a low angle close up shot is used when the floor is seen to catch fire and slowly spread to the car. A long shot is then used to show the car catch fire and a big explosion is seen as Jay Z is stood in the foreground. This then cuts to a medium shot of the rapper and Beyonce dressed in a glamorous outfit; with heels and a fur coat on struts onto the screen and drapes herself round the rapper. This is another example of Dyer's theory, this luxurious lifestyle is what the audience envy and idolise the singer. A panning low angle shot is then used on both the singers as this makes them look powerful. (See picture)
By using a two shot – it gives the impression of the sexual tension between them both whilst dancing with each other. A medium shot of Beyonce cuts quickly to the explosion of the car, to a close up of Jay Z and then returning back to a close-up shot of Beyonce. The fast paced cutting between shots adds excitement to the video and maintains the audience’s attention. As the tone of the music changes slightly, the camera cuts to a shot of Beyonce kicking a water pipe and spraying water all over the dark alley way.
The camera cuts quickly back to the previous scene for around 4 seconds then returning to a medium shot of Beyonce dancing, raising her arms to the music in the spray of the water pipe. The scene looks dark and shadowy but it adds atmosphere. The camera then cuts to a low angle panning shot of Beyonce as she is getting covered in rain.(see picture)
A close up shot shows her facial expression and she still remains provocative even though she is very wet. She then poses for the camera in the street before cutting to another scene.
The final scene shows Beyonce dresses in a brightly coloured dress, with heels in front of an enormous fan which blows her hair. The camera cuts to and from the previous scene 5 times in the beat of the music. During the scene of the large fan, Beyonce is seen to repeat her strut towards the camera, similar to scene 1 and 3 with her dancers by her side. Another long shot is used to show the synchronization between all 6 women, it looks very professional as they are all in time with one another.(see picture)
This is followed by a variety of close, medium and long shots before the camera zooms out of the scene and cuts to a long shot of Beyonce dancing in the rain. As the finale of the song approaches the burning car scene is shown through a long shot, cuts back to a medium shot in the rain then the camera cuts again to a close up shot of Beyonce with the large fan. This sequence is very fast paces and complicated but it looks very visually appealing as three are lots of bright colours and action taking place. As the song finishes, Beyonce walks towards the camera, with the wind in her hair, adding to her sex appeal, she walks away out of shot. The last cut of the video is Beyonce posing in the back of the car, the medium shot shows her body language and the scene gradually fades to black.
This is an effective ending as the song is very fast paced and includes a lot of action in a small space of time. But by ending slowly and quietly it adds a quirky ending and leaves the audience exhausted.
Written by Hollie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i38JRTyMik
As the music begins immediately the camera is shown to be driving down a sunny road in California, with palm trees either side. This conforms to Hebdige's theory of subcultures. The camera cuts to a close up shot of the rapper Jay Z, it shows he is in the back of the car that seems to be travelling down the road. By using a close up shot of the rapper, the audience can see who is being featured in the video with Beyonce. The camera then cuts quickly back to the road, then back to Jay Z before returning to cut back to the road again. The cuts between scenes are in time with the beat of the music. After cutting back to the road Beyonce is seen to be walking towards the camera up the road. She is perceived as a sex symbol as she is wearing a low cut vest top and short shorts.(see picture)
She flicks her hair in the wind. The camera then cuts to a low tracking shot of her high red heels as she continues to strut to the beat of the music. The camera then cuts again to a shot from behind which focuses on her rear – as this is a well known trademark of Beyonce’s. The camera then quickly cuts to a low angle medium shot of Beyonce walking up to what looks like a barn entrance but by cutting to a long shot of Beyonce on the wooden planks it gives the impression to the audience that it is a stage. This conforms to Richard Dyer's theory of stardom. As the idea of the audience looking up to the star, but cannot reach her, gives the singer power.(see picture)
As Beyonce begins to seductively dance on her own, the camera cuts to a close up of Jay Z again before using a low angle panning shot on the singer as she keeps eye contact with the camera constantly, it gives the impression she is drawing in the audience. The height of the camera is level with the singers head as she dances on the floor, therefore connecting with the audience - Dyer's theory - as the audience can connect with the star. The camera then pans back the other way as the eye contact is still maintained.
The camera then zooms out to a long shot where the audience can see the location of Beyonce before quickly cutting to a close up shot, an extreme close up, back to a medium shot of the singer. These quick cuts are in time with the music – which is very fast. This is a common convention used for this pop genre. The pace is then slowed as the music continues it’s fast beat; Beyonce is seen slowly moving her arms and posing for the camera up against a wall, in an attempt to seduce the audience. Four of these shots are used before returning back to the singer performing on the wooden stage. She lies down flat on the stage and the camera rapidly zooms out and out, through the legs of another shot of Beyonce.
In this scene, Beyonce is wearing a much more glamorous outfit as she is wearing a short, fitted gold dress, with lots of gold jewellery and sky scraper heels. A long shot is used to show the audience the difference in location. The superimposed backdrop of New York City is seen and the singer is dancing on a small, rounded stage with spot lights and camera flashes. This is a prime example of Dyer's theory. The theme of this scene is city glam.
Close up shots are used of Beyonce’s face as she sings, each cutting to a close up shot at a different angle, this shows variety, the timing of the camera cuts still remain in time with the beat of the music. A low angle shot is then used which shows that the singer is important and powerful and begins to rotate around her body as she dances. By using a low angle shot when the singer is wearing a short dress and heels makes Beyonce look like a sex symbol. She remains to keep eye contact with the camera as she sings. The camera then quickly cuts back to the first scene of Beyonce lying on the wooden stage before returning to the bright lights. An insert shot is then used as a close up shot of a camera lens is used and Beyonce’s face is seen in the reflection which looks very effective.(see picture)
The camera then cuts back to a medium shot of the singer dancing on stage with paparazzi flashes before cutting to a new scene.
The third scene of the music video is Beyonce strutting towards the camera – similar to the very first scene. But she is wearing more casual clothes. A baseball cap and jacket fit in with the location of an alley where she is walking through. This also conforms to Hebdige's theory of subcultures. She is accompanied by 5 other dancers dressed in baseball jackets. Beyonce still remains to appear sexy as she has her hair down and full make up. The camera cuts back and forth to the previous scene four times before returning to the present location of the alley.
A long shot is then used that shows all the dancers including Beyonce dancing in synchronization with one another.(see picture)
The trademark ‘Beyonce booty shake’ is then shown with all 5 dancers performing the same move. The camera then cuts to a close up of Beyonce’s shaking her ‘booty’ before returning to a medium shot of faces. A close up shot of Beyonce’s face is then used as she walks in and out of the dancers, by maintaining eye contact with the camera, the audience are drawn into the song. This is again a convention used to conform to Dyer's stardom theory as the audience may feel a sense of intimacy. The camera is level with the singers face and by having other dancers pass in front of Beyonce, it gives the impression that the audience are really there with her. She stops, pressed against the wall in a sexy manner as a medium shot is used to show her body language before walking out of shot and into the distance.
A forth scene is then shown of Beyonce trapped in a car, the lighting is dim and the singer looks troubles which makes the audience curious about what is going to happen. The camera position is hidden in the corner and Beyonce is unaware, this is an example of Dyer's intimacy theory, as the audience may feel as though they are looking into Beyonce's private life - therefore they continue to watch. The camera then cuts back to the camera following Beyonce in her baseball jacket and cap and she turns round and blows a large blue bubble at the camera, turns away and walks off the screen. This shows a hint of immaturity which may attract other audiences. The shot then cuts back to Beyonce sitting down at the back of a car. The car has bright orange and yellow covers which contrast with the singer’s dark hair, skin and clothes.(see picture)
This scene is then cut to a long shot showing a shadowy figure in the foreground and the audience can see the car which they assume Beyonce is sat in, in the background. The camera then cuts back to Beyonce in the car before cutting straight to an extreme close up of a lighter being lit – this signifies danger. The camera then cuts back to inside the car where Beyonce can hear the danger she is in. By using this combination of shots, it is as if a story is being told through the song - an easy narrative originates from Archer's theory.
The shadowy figure (Jay Z) then drops the lighter on the floor and a low angle close up shot is used when the floor is seen to catch fire and slowly spread to the car. A long shot is then used to show the car catch fire and a big explosion is seen as Jay Z is stood in the foreground. This then cuts to a medium shot of the rapper and Beyonce dressed in a glamorous outfit; with heels and a fur coat on struts onto the screen and drapes herself round the rapper. This is another example of Dyer's theory, this luxurious lifestyle is what the audience envy and idolise the singer. A panning low angle shot is then used on both the singers as this makes them look powerful. (See picture)
By using a two shot – it gives the impression of the sexual tension between them both whilst dancing with each other. A medium shot of Beyonce cuts quickly to the explosion of the car, to a close up of Jay Z and then returning back to a close-up shot of Beyonce. The fast paced cutting between shots adds excitement to the video and maintains the audience’s attention. As the tone of the music changes slightly, the camera cuts to a shot of Beyonce kicking a water pipe and spraying water all over the dark alley way.
The camera cuts quickly back to the previous scene for around 4 seconds then returning to a medium shot of Beyonce dancing, raising her arms to the music in the spray of the water pipe. The scene looks dark and shadowy but it adds atmosphere. The camera then cuts to a low angle panning shot of Beyonce as she is getting covered in rain.(see picture)
A close up shot shows her facial expression and she still remains provocative even though she is very wet. She then poses for the camera in the street before cutting to another scene.
The final scene shows Beyonce dresses in a brightly coloured dress, with heels in front of an enormous fan which blows her hair. The camera cuts to and from the previous scene 5 times in the beat of the music. During the scene of the large fan, Beyonce is seen to repeat her strut towards the camera, similar to scene 1 and 3 with her dancers by her side. Another long shot is used to show the synchronization between all 6 women, it looks very professional as they are all in time with one another.(see picture)
This is followed by a variety of close, medium and long shots before the camera zooms out of the scene and cuts to a long shot of Beyonce dancing in the rain. As the finale of the song approaches the burning car scene is shown through a long shot, cuts back to a medium shot in the rain then the camera cuts again to a close up shot of Beyonce with the large fan. This sequence is very fast paces and complicated but it looks very visually appealing as three are lots of bright colours and action taking place. As the song finishes, Beyonce walks towards the camera, with the wind in her hair, adding to her sex appeal, she walks away out of shot. The last cut of the video is Beyonce posing in the back of the car, the medium shot shows her body language and the scene gradually fades to black.
This is an effective ending as the song is very fast paced and includes a lot of action in a small space of time. But by ending slowly and quietly it adds a quirky ending and leaves the audience exhausted.
Written by Hollie
Analysis of a music video
Plain White T's -Hate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyFe8Yac0W0
The music video begins abruptly as the camera zooms into a scene with the lead singer standing in front of a bright window which gives the effect of a silhouette. (see picture)
A medium shot is shown which shows to the audience he is looking at a phone. The camera then cuts to a close up of a photo which shows a woman- this connotes to the audience that the woman in the picture frame used to be his girl friend as he sings the lyrics “love, love, love love love love”. The camera then shows a band member plugging in an amp for the guitar before using a long shot of the silhouetted band members. Another zoom shot shows the camera zooming into a picture of the same woman on his phone, before he then closes the picture down, closes his phone and a medium shot shows the singer walking off. This is the start of a narrative, which links to Archer's theory of repeatability, where the audience can watch the video over again.
A low angle shot is used when a band member is playing his guitar, (see picture)this shot looks very effective as the guitar stands out and gives an edgy feel to the video.
A close up shot shows the picture of the woman in the frame and in the blurred background, the singer is seen walking by and the frame smashes on the beat of the chorus in the foreground. This conforms to a typical convention of fast cutting used during the video.
Another low shot of the guitar is used, which then cuts to a long shot of the band playing in time, this looks very professional as 4 silhouettes are seen playing a mixture of guitars and drums with a white, blurry background which is the light from the window they’re playing in front of.
A different scene is then introduced with a medium shot being used as the singer sings to the camera - another typical convention of indie rock genres. He is walking towards the camera down the street, maintaining eye contact with the camera - therefore drawing in the audience.This gives the audience a sense of intimacy and is evidence of Dyer's theory.
This camera shot then cuts to a panning shot through a glass window where the singer is seen walking past, looking away from the camera. The shot then returns to the medium shot of the singer walking down the street, the background is bright white which makes him stand out on screen as he is wearing a black jacket with jet black hair. The connotations of this scene gives the impression that he is in heaven. This then cuts to a long shot which is shot from the side which shows he is walking past shops - which looks realistic. This changes as when he walks past a water pipe, in the centre of the screen, it bursts on the beat of the chorus and water is shot up into the sky. (see picture)
The camera then uses an effective low angled shot which shows the back of the singer walking past in the back ground and the burst water pipe in the foreground. The camera then returns to the medium shot of the singer walking in the street, in the background the audience can see people running away and look panicked by the burst water pipe as the singer remains calm. The camera then cuts to a side panning shot of the singer in the street and more people continue to run around him. A medium shot is then used yet again before returning to a medium shot of the crowds of people getting wet from the pipe.
The guitar is then shown through a close up and the audience can see how quickly the band members fingers are moving which is then portrayed as being talented and desirable. The camera then cuts back to the original medium shot of the singer walking down the street before cutting again to a close up of the drummer banging a beat to the build up to the chorus. The camera then quickly cuts back to a medium shot of people running and taking cover before cutting to the singer in the street. A close up shot is then used and the backing music stops whilst the singer makes eye contact with the camera as he sings “really don’t like you”, as if he is singing it directly to the audience, again conforming to the typical convention and theory of Richard Dyer. (see picture)
The short instrumental then shows each instrument playing in a close up shot. This gives each band member focused attention by using a mixture of close up shots - which shows their expressions and medium shots - which shows their body language. The camera then shoots the singer from a panning shot and the audience sees a man run past, the camera then switches to a medium shot and the singer is pushed out the way by the running man to give a sense of continuity.
The camera then cuts to a medium shot which shows the ex girlfriend in the taxi. The yellow taxi really stands out from the rainy, dull background. Cutting back to the band playing through a medium shot, the camera cuts back again to the girl looking out of the taxi. Before returning to a close up of the drums being played. The singer then looks up into the sky and it begins to rain into the camera. The camera quickly cuts to a stranger also looking up into the sky which tells the audience that a storm is coming, as the clouds are forming into thick, black ones - which is shown through a low angle shot. (see picture)
The singer is then shown walking down the street through a side angle long shot which shows to the audience other people running around, looking for cover from the rain. This then cuts to a medium shot of his face. As the singer reaches a high note, a high angle shot is used which films him from behind and the audience can see a large pane of glass smashing behind him. This then cuts to the people on the street physically covering themselves from the glass and the rain. This effect makes the singer look powerful and the audience would want to consume more of him and the band - this is Dyers theory of stardom used to market a song or product.
A low angle panning shot is then used which shows the singer looking up into the sky and the audience can see a large building in the background with the black clouds looming in the sky.
The scene then changes as a long shot is used , which shows the silhouettes of the band playing their instruments in an empty shop, with the light shining through the large glass front. Again, Dyer's theory is evident as the lighting makes the band look 'heavenly' and more important that the other people outside the window.(see picture)
By using a long shot, the audience can see the singer walking into the shop through the door - which gives the music video continuity. This then changes to a close up shot of the singer singing through a microphone which gives the impression that he is on stage, singing to the audience - again use of Dyer's theory. This then cuts to a low angle, close up shot of a band member playing a red guitar. This camera shot looks very effective and professional as he continues to play it, before cutting back to the long shot of the band. In this shot, the audience can see passers by stopping and peering into the shop, watching the band play. This separation from the outside rain to the inside music being played looks effective as the glass window acts as a barrier to the band - as if they are untouchable. This then cuts to a close up of the singers face again as he continues to sing through the microphone. A panning medium shot is then used from the inside of the window which shows all the faces of the wet people audience inside - it shows they are impressed by the band as they are smiling despite the weather. Another long shot of the silhouetted band is then used.
This then cuts to the yellow taxi pulling up outside the shop, it quickly cuts to a low angle of the guitar before another long shot of the band to cut back to the yellow taxi, the ex girlfriend slowly gets out and wonders what is going on. The rain stops and the sun comes out, the girlfriend is wearing a bright yellow coat which also stands out from the crowd. This then cuts back to medium and long shots of the band, the cuts between camera angles are quicker as the pace of the music increases which creates tension for the audience.
A tracking shot is used which follows the girlfriend slowly pushing through the crowd to reach the window. This then cuts to a medium shot from inside the shot which shows the girlfriends looking through the window at the band. By using this type of shot, the audience can see her facial expression and they can see that she looks upset. (see picture)
The camera shots are then varied such as a medium shot of the drummer, cutting to a close up of the singer, to a long shot of the band playing. This shows to the audience that they haven’t noticed the ex girlfriend through the window yet. Another close up shot of the singer is then used which shows the singer standing out as the background is white and blurred - this is as if he is singing directly to the audience. This then cuts to a long shot of the singer as he turns round to sing to the viewers outside and he suddenly sees his ex girl friend through the window and he stops singing and pulls away his microphone. This is a clear, straight forward narrative which is easy to consume for the audience. Archer's theory is evident as the audience can easily follow the story behind the song and would notice new conventions and shots the next time they would watch the video.
This then cuts to a close up of the upset girl before cutting to a long shot from inside the shop. In this shot, the audience can see the band in the foreground, the audience in the background and the singer walking slowly to the window, towards the girl. This scene is interrupted by another low angle shot of the guitar before cutting back to a two shot at the window.
A zooming close up shot of the girl is then used and the audience can clearly see how upset she looks. This then cuts to a zooming close up of the singer looking back at her - with no expression on his face. These two clear close ups show their feelings for one another. The video finishes by using a long shot which shows everyone in the scene and the camera slowly zooms out to black.
Written by Hollie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyFe8Yac0W0
The music video begins abruptly as the camera zooms into a scene with the lead singer standing in front of a bright window which gives the effect of a silhouette. (see picture)
A medium shot is shown which shows to the audience he is looking at a phone. The camera then cuts to a close up of a photo which shows a woman- this connotes to the audience that the woman in the picture frame used to be his girl friend as he sings the lyrics “love, love, love love love love”. The camera then shows a band member plugging in an amp for the guitar before using a long shot of the silhouetted band members. Another zoom shot shows the camera zooming into a picture of the same woman on his phone, before he then closes the picture down, closes his phone and a medium shot shows the singer walking off. This is the start of a narrative, which links to Archer's theory of repeatability, where the audience can watch the video over again.
A low angle shot is used when a band member is playing his guitar, (see picture)this shot looks very effective as the guitar stands out and gives an edgy feel to the video.
A close up shot shows the picture of the woman in the frame and in the blurred background, the singer is seen walking by and the frame smashes on the beat of the chorus in the foreground. This conforms to a typical convention of fast cutting used during the video.
Another low shot of the guitar is used, which then cuts to a long shot of the band playing in time, this looks very professional as 4 silhouettes are seen playing a mixture of guitars and drums with a white, blurry background which is the light from the window they’re playing in front of.
A different scene is then introduced with a medium shot being used as the singer sings to the camera - another typical convention of indie rock genres. He is walking towards the camera down the street, maintaining eye contact with the camera - therefore drawing in the audience.This gives the audience a sense of intimacy and is evidence of Dyer's theory.
This camera shot then cuts to a panning shot through a glass window where the singer is seen walking past, looking away from the camera. The shot then returns to the medium shot of the singer walking down the street, the background is bright white which makes him stand out on screen as he is wearing a black jacket with jet black hair. The connotations of this scene gives the impression that he is in heaven. This then cuts to a long shot which is shot from the side which shows he is walking past shops - which looks realistic. This changes as when he walks past a water pipe, in the centre of the screen, it bursts on the beat of the chorus and water is shot up into the sky. (see picture)
The camera then uses an effective low angled shot which shows the back of the singer walking past in the back ground and the burst water pipe in the foreground. The camera then returns to the medium shot of the singer walking in the street, in the background the audience can see people running away and look panicked by the burst water pipe as the singer remains calm. The camera then cuts to a side panning shot of the singer in the street and more people continue to run around him. A medium shot is then used yet again before returning to a medium shot of the crowds of people getting wet from the pipe.
The guitar is then shown through a close up and the audience can see how quickly the band members fingers are moving which is then portrayed as being talented and desirable. The camera then cuts back to the original medium shot of the singer walking down the street before cutting again to a close up of the drummer banging a beat to the build up to the chorus. The camera then quickly cuts back to a medium shot of people running and taking cover before cutting to the singer in the street. A close up shot is then used and the backing music stops whilst the singer makes eye contact with the camera as he sings “really don’t like you”, as if he is singing it directly to the audience, again conforming to the typical convention and theory of Richard Dyer. (see picture)
The short instrumental then shows each instrument playing in a close up shot. This gives each band member focused attention by using a mixture of close up shots - which shows their expressions and medium shots - which shows their body language. The camera then shoots the singer from a panning shot and the audience sees a man run past, the camera then switches to a medium shot and the singer is pushed out the way by the running man to give a sense of continuity.
The camera then cuts to a medium shot which shows the ex girlfriend in the taxi. The yellow taxi really stands out from the rainy, dull background. Cutting back to the band playing through a medium shot, the camera cuts back again to the girl looking out of the taxi. Before returning to a close up of the drums being played. The singer then looks up into the sky and it begins to rain into the camera. The camera quickly cuts to a stranger also looking up into the sky which tells the audience that a storm is coming, as the clouds are forming into thick, black ones - which is shown through a low angle shot. (see picture)
The singer is then shown walking down the street through a side angle long shot which shows to the audience other people running around, looking for cover from the rain. This then cuts to a medium shot of his face. As the singer reaches a high note, a high angle shot is used which films him from behind and the audience can see a large pane of glass smashing behind him. This then cuts to the people on the street physically covering themselves from the glass and the rain. This effect makes the singer look powerful and the audience would want to consume more of him and the band - this is Dyers theory of stardom used to market a song or product.
A low angle panning shot is then used which shows the singer looking up into the sky and the audience can see a large building in the background with the black clouds looming in the sky.
The scene then changes as a long shot is used , which shows the silhouettes of the band playing their instruments in an empty shop, with the light shining through the large glass front. Again, Dyer's theory is evident as the lighting makes the band look 'heavenly' and more important that the other people outside the window.(see picture)
By using a long shot, the audience can see the singer walking into the shop through the door - which gives the music video continuity. This then changes to a close up shot of the singer singing through a microphone which gives the impression that he is on stage, singing to the audience - again use of Dyer's theory. This then cuts to a low angle, close up shot of a band member playing a red guitar. This camera shot looks very effective and professional as he continues to play it, before cutting back to the long shot of the band. In this shot, the audience can see passers by stopping and peering into the shop, watching the band play. This separation from the outside rain to the inside music being played looks effective as the glass window acts as a barrier to the band - as if they are untouchable. This then cuts to a close up of the singers face again as he continues to sing through the microphone. A panning medium shot is then used from the inside of the window which shows all the faces of the wet people audience inside - it shows they are impressed by the band as they are smiling despite the weather. Another long shot of the silhouetted band is then used.
This then cuts to the yellow taxi pulling up outside the shop, it quickly cuts to a low angle of the guitar before another long shot of the band to cut back to the yellow taxi, the ex girlfriend slowly gets out and wonders what is going on. The rain stops and the sun comes out, the girlfriend is wearing a bright yellow coat which also stands out from the crowd. This then cuts back to medium and long shots of the band, the cuts between camera angles are quicker as the pace of the music increases which creates tension for the audience.
A tracking shot is used which follows the girlfriend slowly pushing through the crowd to reach the window. This then cuts to a medium shot from inside the shot which shows the girlfriends looking through the window at the band. By using this type of shot, the audience can see her facial expression and they can see that she looks upset. (see picture)
The camera shots are then varied such as a medium shot of the drummer, cutting to a close up of the singer, to a long shot of the band playing. This shows to the audience that they haven’t noticed the ex girlfriend through the window yet. Another close up shot of the singer is then used which shows the singer standing out as the background is white and blurred - this is as if he is singing directly to the audience. This then cuts to a long shot of the singer as he turns round to sing to the viewers outside and he suddenly sees his ex girl friend through the window and he stops singing and pulls away his microphone. This is a clear, straight forward narrative which is easy to consume for the audience. Archer's theory is evident as the audience can easily follow the story behind the song and would notice new conventions and shots the next time they would watch the video.
This then cuts to a close up of the upset girl before cutting to a long shot from inside the shop. In this shot, the audience can see the band in the foreground, the audience in the background and the singer walking slowly to the window, towards the girl. This scene is interrupted by another low angle shot of the guitar before cutting back to a two shot at the window.
A zooming close up shot of the girl is then used and the audience can clearly see how upset she looks. This then cuts to a zooming close up of the singer looking back at her - with no expression on his face. These two clear close ups show their feelings for one another. The video finishes by using a long shot which shows everyone in the scene and the camera slowly zooms out to black.
Written by Hollie
Friday 4 September 2009
Research into the industry
The Subways
The Subways are an English alternative rock band
Their debut album, Young For Eternity, was released on 4 July 2005 in the UK
Their second album, All Or Nothing, was released on 30 June 2008
Although the band have not experienced a great deal of commercial success, they have gained a loyal fan base following them to Reading and Leeds festivals
On each occasion they attracted a crowd big enough to fill the second stage tent beyond capacity, resulting in the band becoming main stage regulars.
The band has 3 members:
Billy Lunn - guitar and vocals
Charlotte Cooper - bass and vocals
Josh Morgan - drums
The Subways began playing at an early age, in Lunn and Morgan's homes in Welwyn Garden City
They first played Nirvana and punk songs but they were originally called Mustardseed
The band released many demos and EPs in their early days when playing the London circuit in the UK
However, at such a young age the group had no money with which to go into a studio to record consistently, so they came upon the idea of buying their own cheap recording system at home. Eventually, the band had their own website, (http://www.thesubways.net) which Lunn himself constructed and maintained.
They recorded eight demos worth of songs both on the internet and being sent out to local and London promoters which made the band more successful as more and more companies had heard about The Subways.
After years of home recording, The Subways heard that a record producer; Michael Eavis that year was running an unsigned bands competition to play on the Other Stage, and they decided that would be a great idea. They never expected a phone call back to say that they had won the competition and they had won the chance to go to Glastonbury to play live on stage- where they were a big hit.
The Subways are now signed with new record label; Goo Music
The are a company started in 2002
They are in close contact with booking agents and promoters that gives the band a fresh feel
They have managed the Subways for 4 years and are currently preparing a second album
They are also known for promoting bands through festivals and gigs, which is how the Subways became so popular.
Written by Sam
The Subways are an English alternative rock band
Their debut album, Young For Eternity, was released on 4 July 2005 in the UK
Their second album, All Or Nothing, was released on 30 June 2008
Although the band have not experienced a great deal of commercial success, they have gained a loyal fan base following them to Reading and Leeds festivals
On each occasion they attracted a crowd big enough to fill the second stage tent beyond capacity, resulting in the band becoming main stage regulars.
The band has 3 members:
Billy Lunn - guitar and vocals
Charlotte Cooper - bass and vocals
Josh Morgan - drums
The Subways began playing at an early age, in Lunn and Morgan's homes in Welwyn Garden City
They first played Nirvana and punk songs but they were originally called Mustardseed
The band released many demos and EPs in their early days when playing the London circuit in the UK
However, at such a young age the group had no money with which to go into a studio to record consistently, so they came upon the idea of buying their own cheap recording system at home. Eventually, the band had their own website, (http://www.thesubways.net) which Lunn himself constructed and maintained.
They recorded eight demos worth of songs both on the internet and being sent out to local and London promoters which made the band more successful as more and more companies had heard about The Subways.
After years of home recording, The Subways heard that a record producer; Michael Eavis that year was running an unsigned bands competition to play on the Other Stage, and they decided that would be a great idea. They never expected a phone call back to say that they had won the competition and they had won the chance to go to Glastonbury to play live on stage- where they were a big hit.
The Subways are now signed with new record label; Goo Music
The are a company started in 2002
They are in close contact with booking agents and promoters that gives the band a fresh feel
They have managed the Subways for 4 years and are currently preparing a second album
They are also known for promoting bands through festivals and gigs, which is how the Subways became so popular.
Written by Sam
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