Analysing Everything is Alright Music Video

1. Our video will be like this one in the scene that it will have more than one location to enhance the performance and give a more rock-like vide.
2. Again the key props will be the instruments so we want be using most of the props in this video as they are for a crazier story
3. Costumes will probably be something along these lines of casual and easily obtained.
4. Again we will probably need the equipment I mentioned in the last post.
5. All in all this task has further instilled the ideas that I had when looking at the last video as I believe they will be the most effective.

Analysing Death of a Bachelor Music Video

What this means for my work:

1. Location; locations will have to be picked to reflect the music. It will have to relate to the lyrics or music. With the songs that we currently have in mind it shouldn't be too hard to do. I don't think well have access to a stage like this but the space is definitely somewhere to film the performance parts of the video as it is a stage. Over video also would be purely performance based so there would have to be location changes for the story.
2. Props will also have to fit the themes and conventions of the rock genre. We obviously can't use alcohol and cigarettes as we aren't old enough to purchase them. A microphone and instruments can be easily obtained as one of the group members own many instruments as well as doing music. College have also said that we can borrow microphones if we need them. 
3. I don't think we will go for the full formal attire for our products. More simple rock style clothing like graphic t-shirts, skinny jeans and boots will probably be what we go with as the people we use in the video might not have access to formal clothing and buying this like that can be quite expensive.
4. Looking at the range of shots here and the work we did in the music video work shot, we will probably need to use equipment like the track so we can have shots that move with the artist. The fig rig would also be an important part of filming as we would be able to move in and around the people performing. It would allow us to get a number of different shots and be creative with what we film.
5. This video contains around 200 shots all from different angels around the room. As this is a professional video it contains more shots then i would probably be able to achieve so realistically we would he aiming for around 150 - 200 shots. We would have to film in more then one location and have multiple costume changes so the time we have to film wouldn't allow us to film as much as the director of this video did in his one location. 
6. For the song we might do we would have to have probably 2-3 performers o make it look authentic. Although having the one performer works well in this video, it wouldn't be realistic to only have one within our video especially as the song we do will be a band song. 
7. With the narrative that we do we will have to think about the way we represent people as I don't yet know what song we will do I cannot say what these representation will be but I aim to keep them real and as normalised as possible.
8. The lyrics and visuals will have to be linked if we want to make a clear piece. 
9. From this video i have learn the importance of the music relating to the visuals. The lighting in this video changes with the pitch or tone of the video which is something that i like a lot. I want to do something that allows me to incorporate this into the final product. The editing pace also changes with the pace of the song which is also something that I really like about it. I will definitely be doing this with the song that we choose in the end.
10. Lastly I think it will be really beneficial if we can get a real band to perform in the video that we do as it will make the whole thing look more authentic. It will make directions easier as the band will hopefully be accustomed to performing. However we will have to come up with an alternative if we can't do this.

Genre Theory

Genre: a class or category of artistic endeavour having a particular form,content, technique



Video examples

Goodwin:


Sells the band as a brand with a lot of close ups as well as making the listener fell as though the band are singing to them. They follow pop characteristics

The video has no performance apart from the leader singer lip syncing. The video is more focused on the concept or narrative behind the song which is a common characteristic more rock music. Rock music can also have more performance based videos for example Fall Out Boy's Save Rock'n'Roll focuses of the band playing the music rather than the narrative.
Loop:

The video is mostly pop with an electronic mix to it. It stays mostly pop but brings in elements of electro in the music and lights of the visuals
Brings in indie music traits such as the upbeat stringed instrument of top of the drum beats but the colours and theme are more aligned with the rock genre.
Collins:

 Has a pop feel to the music with bright lights and colours but the costume and makeup are punk. The themes are also more punk with the ideas of never growing up, excessive alcohol use and performances.
Grant:


Meghan Trainor is a good example of a pop artist that follows Grant's theory. She is always wearing makeup. Her clothes are up to date with fashion trends. Her music videos are usually bright and colourful. There is usually a dance number in her videos and she is usually the focus of the video, with a lot of close ups on her.

Impact on ideas:

1. These theories will have to be considered in the planning of the video. We would have to decide which theory we wanted to employ more than the others
2. Grants theory is something that will definitely be used in the work we do. Its clear that genres do have forms and conventions. We will be employing rock conventions in the video, on the digipak and on the website. The colours will be ones that has associations with the rock genre such as black and dark red. It also gives us a framework to work within.
3. Loop's and Collins theory has given me ideas that would allow use to break the conventions suggested by Grant. We could borrow aspects from the indie genre such as pastel colours and uses them in the digipak and website. As we haven't finalised a song as this moment it is difficult to say whether this would work but i believe that one of the songs would work with these colours very well and allow use to make a rock hybrid digipak and website that might be very effective.
4.  Goodwin's theory is something that will be considered in the planning of the video. 

Music Video workshop day

Nicola and Al started by giving use some tips at how to be successful this year in media and how to create effective products. These tips were provided by Pete Fraser

They were:

• Multitasking; To get all of the products done for the deadline we will have to work on the video, website and digipak consecutively to get them all done
• Blog: Keep your blog clean and ordered. Post blog titles if they need to be filled in later so that everything stays in the right order.
• Evidence everything; include examples of different of real media products and show the thought process and the way that you think. 
• Test ideas for costumes, props and test shots
• Practices with the software that we will be using in the making of the final product

This has impacted my work as it has given me golden rules

1. Use my blog as a dairy, updating it with every thought that I have.
2. Be creative with the shots that we take getting a range of shots with different angles, distances and lengths.
3. Play the music while we are filming the video. 
4. Create empty blog posts with just the titles to make sure that everything is in order
5. Keep on top of time management. 
6. Multitask so that everything gets done
7. Communicate regularly with the other members of the group.
8. Don't leave anything till the last minute.

We also recreated this music video using a range of different equipment. We set up cameras around the places that people would be performing. The lights were distributed behind them. 

We learned how to use the fig rig, the track.We also learned to best way to light the people that we are filming. The lights should be facing the camera and at the same level as the camera. We had cameras at all angles so that we had a range of shots to use The camera at the infront of the performers got wides shots of all of them together.

The main skills we got from this were

• Learning how to use the cameras, fig rig and track so that we can create creative shots
• Its best to film with a tripod so that the shots are as steady as possible. if filming without the tripod then the camera should be held as steadily as possible so the footage isn't blurred.
• We gained skills in how to be more creative with shots that we take.

Song Discussion

We disscussed over Facebook and decided to do test shots of the three that we had in mind. We have yet to plan these test shots.

Random Cover

Instructions:

 

Photoshop featured used:

Will completing this task, I used a multitude of different features in photoshop. I used the transformation the dimensions of the image. I used the text tool to add in the text. I also used the colour pallet to pick the colour I wanted and the pipette tool to make sure the text was all the same colour. I used the text manipulation tools to change the spacing between the text. 

What it taught me: 

• The positions and placement of text the text is important.
• The text also has to be placed in relation with the image.
• The colour of the text should be the same or similar shades.
• Simple covers can be more effective then busy ones.
• I will have to carefully consider the image I use as it will have to relate to the album as well as having enough space for the text.
• Song titles always do on the back.
• All covers include a bar code and look empty without one.

Chosen Genre - rock

Our group decided to work within the rock genre as it is a genre we are all fairly familiar with. 

As we are working in this genre, it will follow the most basic conventions of the genre;

- casual clothing (black)
- Two or more band members
- Narrative element to the video
- Majority performance based.
- the website and digipak will have clear links to the video

People I'm working with

Jake Ryder
Max Atterby
and me! Grace Williams

Past Students Work Inspiration

• Desaturated footage while the band perform contrast with the colours of the narrative. 
• All band members know how to play and look convincing.
• The lip sync is slightly off on some parts of the video.
• Range of different shots that match the tempo of the music and make the video look like it flows.
• All the performers are convincing at doing what they are doing.
• The narrative is simple with no overly complicated elements that make it more effective.
• The genre is clearly rock and this is shown through the clothing that they all wear and the general look of the video.
• The editing matches the tempo of the music meaning it speeds up at the end of the video linking the lyrics and visuals like Goodwin's theory suggest. It makes the video seem more chaotic,

Idea gained from this:

• If the song allows it, have the visuals desaturated as it makes them seem more emotional and serious
• Included some type of narrative and it breaks up large chunks of performance, giving the audience something else to focus on as well as fitting the conventions of the rock genre. 
• The themes should be simple and easily replicated as they will also have to be used on the website and the digipak. This video has a good example in the shots of the boy with piles of paper around him. 
• Use people in the video who know how to perform and are used to doing it in front of the camera. This will make the performance look more believable.
• Have the editing pace match the tempo.
• Include a variety of shots from different distances and angles.

Inspiration from promotional package research

My research has given me a clear idea of how bands and labels promote songs and albums. I have seen that the website matches the colours and often the fonts that are used on the album cover. This gives me an idea as to what the website should look like as whatever colour scheme I choose will also have to carry over to the website. However this inspires me to be more creative with the images used on the site as it will give the site and digipaks individuality. The Twenty One Pilots website was fairly simple which made the whole site more aesthetically pleasing to me. This is something to consider when I make my own as if I liked it then its likely that other people would also like it. It has also shown me the importance of cross platform promotions as it make sure that the music is heard  one way or another. It spreads the music to as many people as possible. Having the video featured on social pages allows people to share what they see with their friends which makes for a more successful promotion campaign. 

I also has given me some inspiration for the digipak as so far I have only seen then with images and photographs featured. The digipak that I saw for this album gave me the idea of using patterns and colours instead of images and pictures. I liked the different circles with the patterns which gives me an idea for my own digipak. I could have a series of shapes behind the image of the band possibly. I could edit out the background of what ever image I use and replace it with specific pattern of shapes. I think this might look good but I would have to test it before i make my decision on it. 

I also think that it would be very useful to make a fake twitter account for the band that we have as it would make the products seem more real and have that realistic quality. Creating an account like this would allow us to promote the song we do as if it were a real bands production. It would also allow the websites to have real links and icons that would make the website look more professional and real. A facebook page might also be a useful fake resource to create as again it would make the website seem more legitimate and real. 

Researching Cross Media Promotional Packages

Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface/Stressed out



The description of the music video contains links places the album and single can be bought or listened to. 

  

Blurryface cover and digipak

The website promotes their latest album featuring the song: http://www.twentyonepilots.com/ 
Link to the merch site: http://twentyonepilots.warnerartists.net/uk/apparel.html

Merch also relates to the latest album and contains the same colours as it also. The website is also coded with the same colours and patterns of the album. The song stressed out is also featured within a tab of the website making sure that anyone who visits the site will see the video and hear the music which should encourage them to buy it.

Merch is the same colours as the album and clothing worn within the music video

The band also have an official twitter and facebook account where they post updates and promote their music. 

They were also featured in magazines such as Rocksound and Kerrang promoting the song and album

http://www.kerrang.com/35404/watch-twenty-one-pilots-perform-goner-live-first-time/

In addition to this they have also done radio interviews and FAQ

Music video inspiration

I can draw inspiration for his video for its simple style. The video focuses solely on the main singer of the band making the song appear personal and intimate. It uses a single member of the band and focuses on his performance. Having a single person in the video creates a more emotional connection with them as they are the only person that the audience gets to see. It also means that the person we would choose to be in the music video would have to be a performer themselves so that the right level of emotion can be captured on camera. The black and white filter also gives the video a more sombre, serious tone to match the theme of the song. This filter would fit with both serious and lighthearted videos if it were used in the right context. It would all depend of the song that me and my group end up picking but a black and white filter would make video look more professional and if we have the lighting set up properly, it would give the visuals a clear contrast. However it could make the creation of a digipak and website more difficult as there would be on clear colour them it would mean that we would have to find a different common theme between them all such as fairy tales or romance (again the theme of the video would have to depend on the music that we pick) 

The location of the video also gives me ideas as it was shot all in the same location however, it made up for its lack of locational variety with different shot types/angles and strong performance from the singer. This would make the shooting of the video as we wouldn't need to organise multiple different locations, however it would mean that we would have to be a lot more creative in the shots that we do take and the performers that we choose would have to production something of a very high standard. I would definitely like to include a performance like this, on a stage or in a studio, it wouldn't work to have it all shot in one location. To come up with other ideas I definitely have to look into other music videos.

It also works on the bases that it doesn't really feature a lot of narrative in it. This would be a beneficial factor to include in the music video that we create as it means that the planning wouldn't have to include and complex narrative that might feature in a concept album or video. It keeps everything relatively simplistic.