Story Board

This is a summary of the video. There's a lot of ideas that I have but haven't actually come to put it on paper. So there will be lots of different story boards soon to look at.
Will post soon.
_Story Board_

Update On Filming

On Saturday 15th December, I had a family get together. With this event happening, I had asked for their help for filming and they all agreed to participate. I had gathered my equipment to be ready as soon as they arrived, but unfortunately it become very dark very quickly, meaning that I had to re-schedule my filming.
This isn't a problem for me as there are lots of other various shots that only involve one character or even props, so this can be easily shot my myself. I'm currently using two locations, my garden and the park.
Using my garden can be quite helpful as we have a back light to help through dark filming, this can help  gain a glow in a certain area of the camera if I need it and also help create shadows.

Below is a photo of recent filming outside in my garden. In this shot, gymnastics is involved strongly. By using my gymnastic skills, I can take advantage of making positions and / or movements enhanced to fit in with the song by creating an creepy, eerie effect.

In other scenes, like my lip-syncing, I've used a close up to present the character, words and make up clearly. I will be re-filming the lip-syncing again as now I understand what it appears like on full screen, I can improve the look of the make up and positioning.

New Narrative

My music video will have a similar concept of the video 'Alice' but I will use my own touch and techniques alongside props to make it my own.
I plan to use most of the camera angles to mix up my video as much as possible, these will include establishing shot and close-ups, but also I will use panning, hand held cam and 180 degree shots.
In one of the macro elements, sound, I will be including both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. This will make my video more realistic by showing the characters emotions i.e through a scream and/or quote, this will also emphasis the story visually and will amplify the lyrics showing more meaning and realism.

The narrative of my video is about a girl waking up in one of her dreams, not expecting that it would be a nightmare. The characters aim is to wake up but she will be distracted by strange characters offering strange foods and leading her into darker routes which when really, she desperately needs to get out and find a light, warm escape back into reality.

I will be including some of my friends to film this, so I have lots of different characters dressed and acting to make the video interesting. I am going to be using make up; dark and bold make up to create a surreal yet realistic effect to her dream world and video. I will paint my friends faces white, almost giving them a ghostly look, then I will line their eyes with different shapes and patterns with black shadows and eye liners.
In costume, I am using minimal colour to make the characters display slim and spindly almost like smoke. The use of black clothing which includes, leggings, t-shirts and jumpers will act as slippery, sly dream characters with the ability to disappear into the scenery giving a eerie feeling to the video.but this will also be effective when I include the sport of gymnastics. I myself am a gymnast, so I will be included on acting in the video either with a character or individually.

Alice In Wonderland Mise-En-Scene

Costume

Black;

Leggings

Tights

Tee shirt

Jumper

Vest top

Long sleeved shirt

Leg warmers

Pumps

Converse

Boots

Make-up

White face paint 
Red, Pink, Black lipstick
Black eyeliner, shadow and mascara.

Camera Angles /Movement

Close up

Mid shot

Long shot

Establishing shot

Panning

Zooms in & out

Handheld cam

180 degree

Editing

Fades

Distorted effect

Black & white & coloured / filtered

Shakiness

Grainy / Old film

Black corners

Straight cut



Lighting

Natural - afternoon, evening

Location

Park
Garden

Sound

Non-diegetic

Diegetic

Props

Tea-cup & saucer

Cake / cupcake

Sugar

Tophat

Bowls of sweets

Signs i.e 'Exit' / 'Home'

Group Change

Today I decided that I wanted to change from working in a group to working independently, with this change, I already have ideas of what I'd like to do and what I'd like to aim for.

My new song idea is, 'Alice' by Avril Lavigne, this songs genre is pop rock.
 The theme of the song is based on the film Alice In Wonderland, which already tells the viewer that the video will be full of strange objects and events. The song itself is quite dark and twisted with the narrative being a dream world and trying to escape the madness.

Helpful Vocab

It's not that I have a brain like a sieve, but its nice to have terminology set in stone before I forget something.
These terminology words include the descriptions from visuals on the music video to behind the scenes and in the music industry just like Promotion or Target Audience.

Promotion

• 
  

Image

• The visual appearance of the video
•  The colours and characters that are displayed.

Aspiration

Symbolism

Showcase

Abstract

• Something that has no meaning / message
• Something that is not obvious or clear to the viewer.

Narrative

• The narrative is the story of the video. The sequence and the flow.

Target Audience

• There are several target audiences that can be used such as, genders, ages, the interests of the viewer - pop, rock, reggae. It is the aim of the video that it is made for, for a certain group / fan / gender.

Publicity

• 
  

Technical & Symbolic

• 
  

Connotation & Denotation

• 
  

Illustrative

• Is Illustrating the music visually, explaining and displaying through the video.

Amplifying

• 
  

Contradicting

•  This means to contrast against the lyrics with the visual elements.

Motif

•  A motif is a symbol or a series of symbols that reoccur during the music video. Such as, in Fat Boy Slims' video 'Weapon Of Choice', the artists face is shown in frames in the set of the video multiple times.

Voyeuristic

• Voyeurism is the view from a male, of how they view and look at a womens' body. I.e Flo Ridas' music videos consists of women only dressed in minimal clothing.

Intertextuality

• Lots of different texts.

Iconography

• Something the artist develops over time which means the rememberable i.e Lady Gaga, bold clothing choices.

Editing Time

We have started to film the main segment of our music video, which is the running. The 'running' takes up around 50% of the video as the other half is 'home scenes' preparing the character for the run and the remote controlled car transformation. We do have an issue at the moment for grabbing a remote controlled car but at this moment in time, I am asking relatives and friends if they have one that we could borrow.

During filming, we have included long shots and mid shots as well as a low shot for a jump shot. I had hesitantly placed the camera on the ground hoping that I wouldn't break it. 

Because the weather is constantly changing; if we need to shoot some more running scenes and the weather is not good enough, we may be in consequence of not being able to finish the music video. On the other hand, we have edited our recent scenes together and have applied the music on top. We decided to use a straight cut because its simple and effective. The continuity is smooth with this effect too because if a fade or dissolve was used, it would look to busy and unfitting.

Also in editing, we have chosen to make the music copy the characters movement, i.e when the character stops, so shall the music. During the pauses of movement and music, we've kept the diegetic sound from the video to keep the realism and natural sounds in the background.

A video I chose to analyse is a new song from the biggest british boy-band; One Direction. The new song is a 'feel good song', being very upbeat and positive. The video is taken through out the day and shows different time zones from the afternoon to some time after dark.
The video represents a summer party, full of active people and events. Also, the video includes lots of different props which includes things from inflatables to military style land rovers. As One Direction has had an upbeat, loveable album in the past, this song shows the potential and difference in which the boys will be showing in the up-coming album this year.
In this analysing, I will cover all macro elements and also other videos that are and can be linked with this video such as, behind the scenes.

Mise-en-Scene

Locations

Exterior-

Kent; field, lake

Interior -

Tent

Lighting

Soft - This is used in the tent to make the atmosphere warm and attractive.

Warm
Natural 

Dark - Although it is dark, it is lit with lanterns and glowing lights.

Props

Sleeping bags

Tents

Guitars

Football
Trampolines

Swimming pool

Characters

Casual, Jeans, T-shirts, Jackets.

Smart

Energetic

Happy

Editing

Straight cut

Slow motion

Fast cut

Camera Work

Dolly

Close ups

Long shots

Mid shots

Panning

Sound

Diegetic and non- diegetic

This video is the behind-the-scenes; it shows the artists singing and acting. It also shows the view from the director and producers within the process describing what is included and what they'll be planning to do.

Video Details

These are some of the examples of macro elements that we will be including;

Mise-en-scene;

Props

Alarm clock

Tooth brush

cereal & milk 

Remote control car - This prop is still being dicussed.

These props here will mostly be used in the beginning of the video as it is running through the characters daily routine of college but at a fast speed as a consequence of being late.

Locations;

Interior - Home - 

Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen

College

Exterior -

Streets

Traffic lights

On site of college

'Streets' is listed as not a specific place because there is no set plan of which roads we will be using. When we begin to film, we will need both quiet and busy streets to make it realistic as well as 'unlucky' to the character, showing a 'bad' morning, this can be related to teenagers during their casual routine to school or even work.

Lighting

Natural & Soft.

Soft lighting will be used during filming the home scenes in the bedroom and kitchen , then when there is movement from interior to exterior, natural light will take over. No back lights or key lights will be included because the video will need to be simple and genuine to suit the basic story line. The video its self is almost like a video diary.

This photo has been taken using a soft lighting preferably in front of the model. This type of light will be used in our filming to make an attractive scene and picture. Although we are not planning to use a key light we are able to experiment will techniques and effects on the programme Final Cut Pro.

Change Of Plan

Through trying to research for MotorHeads contact address, to ask for permission to use the song 'Aces Of Spades', I have officially found out that the band does not actually own a contact address. Through the process of trying to find a copyright free site to use, www.freeplaymusic.com is a very good site that I've never seen or used before.

 On the other hand of having no song to produce with, and that I successfully found a copyright free website, I found a very fitting rock song which fits for our initial ideas. I gave several song choices to my group for those to decide whether the songs were good enough and if they would fit the narrative and visual ideas. The song that was chosen is quite similar to what MotorHead would play with electric guitars and a heavy bass line.



The website 'Freeplaymusic.com' offers free content of every genre. There are endless choices to download from and they are all easy to access. 
Freeplays' aim is to help set new standards for music productions and also help students in need of a specific song and genre within education.
The site is not too advanced for a new-comer and has easy access to everything. The page is simple, interesting and bold, with lots of different sub-headings and information about the songs - it describes what you will hear and the instruments included- and it also explains the use of the site and the validations it has.
http://freeplaymusic.com/about/

Bruno Mars Construction

I am going to be choosing Bruno Mars to analyse and research, to find out how this artist has been constructed over the years of performing and producing good quality music. Bruno Mars is a worldwide selling musician since working with the Smeezingtons in 2005 - an independent music company in Hawaii, until Atlantic heard his voice in the song ‘Nothin’ On You’ featured in B.O.B.s’ song in 2009 and was given a contract. He is also signed to Elektra. Since then, his fame has risen and he’s become one of the most favourite male artists in the past two years with over 12m followers on twitter and an amazing number of 333m views on his bestselling song, ‘The Lazy Song.’
The Smeezingtons is a record production and it is located in Los Angeles. They cover many genres of music and these include, hip-hop, soul and reggae. Most of the genres that they have been working with have been included in Bruno's album and his album moves from ballads to rock and reggae with hip-hop and dance in his earlier music.
Bruno Mars decided his stage name with the help of his fathers choice of nickname at a young age, he was said to resemble the look of Bruno Sammartino, a professional wrestler as he was a chubby baby. Mars was chosen because he joking Bruno has also worked and collaborated with many artists, co-working and producing songs such as Flo-Rida's 'Right round' and Cee-lo's 'Forget you.' 

 The star construction for Bruno in the music video ‘It Will Rain’, portrays and explains the meaning of love, to his target audience of mainly teenage girls and boys; he speaks, ‘I’ll never be your mothers favourite… if I was in their shoes,’-i.e. the characters parents, - ‘I’d be doing the same thing, saying there’s goes my little girl walking with that troublesome guy.’ These lyrics explain to the viewer that after a situation dealt in a relationship, other people, i.e. the parents spoken in the lyrics, look at the other in a different light, but there is a positive note within the song saying ‘Bruno’ is optimistic and willing to change their minds and prove them wrong. The lines in the chorus also say, ‘There’ll be no sun light, if I lose you baby,’ this can be relatable for the teenage audience optimizing that there is always a way out.

Only two characters are shown in the video giving a more personal perspective to the viewer, keeping the motive between the lyrics and the visual story strong. Close-ups are a main used camera angle in the video; this is helpful for the viewer to understand how the character is feeling.

Voyeurism in the video is displayed through the costume, as she only wears a long white shirt. The women in the video is filmed in long shot, so this displays her full shape and ‘perfect’ features, as a typical view for a man is toned, tanned and pretty.

Bruno’s chosen album cover represents his name and his aim for his work. The rocket represents the movement of his fans increasing throughout his music and achievements that he wishes to grow and with this it shows a contrast from the beginning - working in an independent company to being a worldwide phenomenon.  The colour of the album cover is very bright and eye-catching, this can sales and direct fans straight to his music and merchandise which includes, clothing, posters and jewellery. 
He is also quite personal with his fans, giving them closer looks into his work and behind the scenes of his projects. On his official website, he created a 'Doo-wops & Hooligans' fan base club that enters the world of himself and the band. To be part of his online fan base, you pay only £30 for a year of membership and along side this, you receive a welcome pack which includes, an official poster, a introduction letter and a t-shirt. 
He gives opportunity's to his fans for 'meets and greets', merchandise competitions and more. Also, starting from last year, he decided to create a vlog of his movements touring around the globe. He posted pictures via twitter, instagram and on his website giving almost everyone access to them. 


http://www.brunomars.com/#

http://www.brunomars.com/member

Music Video Plan

Through discussing our song choice and type of technique we'll be using to film, we will be using stop motion with the song from Motor Head called Ace Of Spades.
The narrative behind the video will be explaining a daily routine of a student preparing for college, but this is no ordinary day. As soon as the character steps into college he will transform into a Lego piece. This is create an abstract effect making it out video to be both an abstract and a narrative video.

The macro element of mise-en-scene costume, will either be unorthodox or casual like a regular student. With using a full dress costume this could help the video become more abstract, but the group and I are still discussing. Locations that will be included be only based around college and streets as they are our main priority. Another location we may need to use is a bedroom and kitchen, displaying the character getting ready. Consequently, the group and I are not all local or even close; so if we do need several clips of acting shots of the character, we will have to agree on doing independent filming. With this, we can review the shots through editing when we gather in class.
One aim to do is to pick a 'back up' song in case we do not receive permission by the artist to use the song. The genre we need to keep to is rock because the pace of the video will be fast as the character will be running and rushing. With this, it will need to be fast paced yet not to heavy otherwise the video is look out of place and will contrast too much.

Key Features Of Music Videos

Characteristics~

Jennifer Lopez, Get Right.

This video involves a lot of dance routines as the songs genre is R'n'B and dance-pop.

Little Mix - Wings

This song is R'n'B and hip-hop.

The videos characteristics against hip-hop are bright and bouncy.

Colours clash contrasting and the choreography is unique making it modern, fresh and new.

Relationship Of Lyrics & Visuals~

DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora - Hot Right NowThis song fits as R'n'B and funk.
Amplifying is used well in the centre of the song as there is a build up of sound 'lyrics'- quiet voice, then maximizing volume.
Slow motion effects makes a big impact on the sound when building up suspension.
 It helps build adrenalin and excitement as well as an energy filled ending.

B.O.B - So Good

The genre is rap and pop
The lyrics and visuals are related in this video by using props and locations resembling the lyrics.

Relationship Of Music & Visuals ~

Gym Class Heroes, Stereo Hearts ft Adam Levine

This videos is cut rhythmically to suit the song as well as using visual effects to match the lyrics and beat.

Close-ups & / Motifs

Katy Perry, Wide Awake

This video mainly relys on close-ups and mid shots of the character.

Demi Lovato, Sky Scraper

As this is a very heart felt, emotional song, the close ups keep the video personal.

Notion Of Looking - Voyeuristic

Snoop Dogg, Sweat

This video looks at women from a mens perspective, with women in short dresses and swimsuits.

Nelly ft Justin Timberlake 

Intertextual

Andrew Goodwin

In analysing music videos, there are several segments and different areas you can research, explain and learn about the song.
These include,

• The characteristics in the genre, within the visual elements.
• The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals - either through amplifying, illustrative and contradicting.
• The relationship between the music and visuals - this also includes amplifying, illustrative and contradicting.
• Iconography - things related in the genre, stereotypical, obvious in some cases.
• Voyeurism, in the way women are treated in the video.
• Demanding part of the record company for lots of close ups of the main artist / vocalist. 
• Intertextual references either to other music videos or to films and TV texts.

Alice In wonderland Analysing

 This song represents the surprise in life, maybe a unwanted or unexpected situation. But the purpose of this video and the meaning behind it is portraying a positive message, as the lyrics say, 'I'll get by, I'll survive.' It represents a strong person dealing with chaos i.e the lyrics carry on, "When I fall and hit the ground, I will turn myself around, don't you try to stop me,' this shows that the person/ character is optimistic, positive and unstoppable with what they want to achieve.

Mise-en-scene within the video is focused on the fairy tale stories, as the title displays, 'Alice in wonder land', but it has a dark, eerie vibe instead a stereotypical positive, sweet, airy atmosphere.
The costume chosen is a black gothic flowing dress, this presents the character in two lights as one tells the viewer the characters personality, as it may be, innocent and feminine but with this appearance, it gives the female an edginess to her character as well as a darkness inside her.

 The feelings portrayed in the video are mainly scared and lost and this is shown clearly to the viewer by including close ups of the character. Close-ups help to show expression and feeling; when another character is introduced half way though, it presents a stereotypical villian. The macro element of mise-en-scene makeup, is used a huge amount to get across the character is mad and rather insane.

The locations also helps to let the viewer understand what is going on and where the character may be heading.
Other mise-en-scene also includes surreal, unnatural make up, which describes a crazy nightmare.

Video Researching

In my research of choosing my own music video to analyse, I decided to pick one of my favourite bands Maroon 5. The song consists of performance and different techniques and effects, such as, stop motion, fading and panning.

The mise-en-scene within the video is kept casual but smart wearing, jackets/blazers, waistcoats and jeans. Their clothes are all kept to dark but earthy colours just like, black, beige and brown representing a calm, relaxed mood and atmosphere. But due to the lighting that is kept dark and uneven, this displays a more edgy vibe and gives an immediate aspect to the viewer that they are a rock /pop band.

Camera angles are used a huge amount in this music video as one scene is as long as one second each and with this, they continuously change in order of size and distance zooming out into a long shot then to an extreme close up.
Panning is used frequently and this movement emphasises the motion of the character. It makes the video faster paced and interesting, giving everything an extra bit of speed.

With these shots chosen and displayed, it gives an understanding to the viewer of what he or she is feeling and expressing. The longer shots help acknowledge where the singer and the band are, here, in my photos it seems they stand in a studio or ware house full of instruments and speakers.
Along side the camera angles, a straight cut is used during editing to fit all of these together to keep a smooth run of visuals so it doesn't confuse the viewer or change the concept in any way.

The ending of the video brightens as the lighting becomes stronger and shows details displaying the band members in a better contrast.