For the past week i have had 3 days in which i have been ready and prepared to film. The only problem is, is that follow class mates have not been returning equipment, even when i have approached them and maturely asked them if i could use it on the certain days. Because of this, it has now leaded me to fall even further behind than i already was. Luckily, the school technician has informed me that she has ordered a new batch of Panasonic HP cameras, and will save one for me.
I have now organised to reshoot on Wednesday the 16TH December. Fingers crossed i won’t come across more problems!
Tuesday 22 December 2009
More problems:
Two weeks have passed by and neither Cat nor Ryan have been available, ive been getting really frustrated because there is nothing else i can do until i have the footage. To make things worse, Ryan, my lead man has unfortunately been in a car crash, meaning he won’t be able to be used for another week or two. During this time i have considered using a different actor, however i realised that means redoing everything, when the stop frame footage i took is usable still, so it would make sense to wait for Ryan to recover.
First shoot:
I organised my first shoot to be done at my house on a convenient ILP day with Catherine O’Brien and Ryan Carroll. It didn’t really matter where i filed – seeing as i was shooting it against a green screen.
I set it all up in my front living room where the lighting appeared best. The shoot was really good, we encountered no problems and everything went smoothly until i uploaded the footage. When i first attempted to edit the green screen away i realised it wasn’t lighted efficiently, there where slight shadows, making me realise how sensitive the software is to pick up the certain shade of green needed for it to work. Everything i shot that day was now unable to be used, causing a lot of frustration in the fact that i came to realise how difficult i have made this project for myself. The only positive thing i can say that came from this mistake is that i know where i have gone wrong now, and will hopefully avoid the same situation on the next shoot. To try avoid the same situation i may talk to the drama teachers to use the drama studio lights, this way the lighting will wash the shadows out of the green screen rather than attempt to use lamps, which will most likely be inefficient.
I set it all up in my front living room where the lighting appeared best. The shoot was really good, we encountered no problems and everything went smoothly until i uploaded the footage. When i first attempted to edit the green screen away i realised it wasn’t lighted efficiently, there where slight shadows, making me realise how sensitive the software is to pick up the certain shade of green needed for it to work. Everything i shot that day was now unable to be used, causing a lot of frustration in the fact that i came to realise how difficult i have made this project for myself. The only positive thing i can say that came from this mistake is that i know where i have gone wrong now, and will hopefully avoid the same situation on the next shoot. To try avoid the same situation i may talk to the drama teachers to use the drama studio lights, this way the lighting will wash the shadows out of the green screen rather than attempt to use lamps, which will most likely be inefficient.
Sunday 1 November 2009
animatic
Before going out and shooting the music video i need to create an animatic, which will be used as a rough template of what my final outcome will be. From this i will be able to see the pros and cons of my idea – what works, what doesn’t, and will help indicate what i can improve on.
Below is my animatic.
I have tryed to show each scene and major change within the shots, this being quite difficult seeing it will be in stop motion. I think the shot order works really well, the continuity of the piece flows well. However my drawings don’t visually put across my idea, from this ive decided to create a rough stop motion piece made out of paper to show the movement of each piece.
Below is my animatic.
I have tryed to show each scene and major change within the shots, this being quite difficult seeing it will be in stop motion. I think the shot order works really well, the continuity of the piece flows well. However my drawings don’t visually put across my idea, from this ive decided to create a rough stop motion piece made out of paper to show the movement of each piece.
Monday 12 October 2009
Finding actors
The singers of Exlovers have distinctive styles. After researching photos of them, i realised they only ever wear the same accessories – a hat and black rimmed glasses.
This makes it easy for me to dress actors up to look similar to them, as long as they have a similar shaped face and hair.
Luckily, close friends of mine are fit for the job - Ryan Carroll and Cat O’Brien.
As we all go to the same school and they both live locally it means there easily accessible, perfect for the job.
This makes it easy for me to dress actors up to look similar to them, as long as they have a similar shaped face and hair.
Luckily, close friends of mine are fit for the job - Ryan Carroll and Cat O’Brien.
As we all go to the same school and they both live locally it means there easily accessible, perfect for the job.
Brainstorming ideas and development.
Before i confirm my final idea, i want to keep to the bands original look and their ideologies. The band consists of two singers, who of which are male and female, this is something i want to include in the video as it represents the band challenging the typical codes and conventions of indie bands, separating Exlovers compared to the current bands at the moment.
My initial idea is to have a simple love story between a young couple. I would use a lot of close ups to connect the audience with the two characters and their complete lust for one another. This idea is stereotypical and keeps to the generic conventions of a love story; i would use mise-en-scene to help represent this. For example, the male would be in a messy looking house or flat, covered in posters of iconic bands of the same genre, contrasting with the female, who would be out in town riding a ladies bicycle, with long, flowing hair, distinguishing their stereotypical features of femininity and masculinity. Furthermore, it also distinguishes their positions in the relationship as she is travelling to see him, i would use this to subvert the generic codes and conventions as usually it is the male’s role to be a gentleman and meet the girl, but it would work for this genre of rebellion and difference.
After finding these photos of my friends Jasmine and Chris in his new flat in Brighton it gave me the idea of this sort of a romantic based music video based on the excitement of young love and capturing the emotion created for the boy and the girl whilst sticking to the generic features of genre by their clothing and style. For example, in the photos above it portrays a musically influenced room by the recording equipment, the vintage looking guitar and sofa, along with the various posters of classic rock bands such as The Who and The Rolling Stones. The union jack beanbag also helps distinguish the English culture of indie Rock n’ Roll. Likewise with the photo underneath, of the supermodel/ presenter, Alexa Chung with the union jack duvet covers and David Bowie vinyl cover.
From this came my second idea, of which consists on the same topic – love. However, I would represent it in an unusual, artistic way. I like the idea of using close ups of the couples reactions and facial expressions to portray their happiness. This would be used throughout with high key lighting; i would also edit it with a low contrast and saturation, creating a dream like effect. Furthermore, the location would simply be a town location with the couple walking though, however you don’t get to see where they are walking too as there is constant slow paced close ups used of the couple. Until the end would you discover the meaning behind the narrative as the shots would slowly become further away, showing the audience their true love for each other as they are walking bare foot on something painful, for example, hot burning coal. (Of course it would have to be executed professionally and with care for safety reasons.)
I haven’t been influenced by this idea by any media resource, this idea simply came to my head whilst listening to the song, typically of me it is slightly wacky, an idea that some people may not understand, subverting the codes and conventions, although if I was to actually go through with this idea and created it with a high quality of skill, it has the potential to be very effective.
The idea of creating something with more of an artistic flare interests me a lot more rather than creating a generic music video and from thinking of the idea above gave me inspiration. Not only this but from watching the music videos for Florence + the machine ‘Rabbit heart’ and ‘Dog days’ it made me realise what I could potentially do. I really love the friendly yet disturbing fairytale like characters used within the narrative, especially in the video for ‘Rabbit heart’ with the Alice and Wonderland theme. The third idea i had was to have a similar sort of dinner party theme with the band Exlovers playing as the entertainment. However the characters would be dressed in bizarre costumes which i would design and create, whilst the band are in their typical scrappy looking everyday wear emphasising their ‘individuality’. The characters appear to be weird and unable to socialise, touching the other characters confused of what they are, portraying their naivety and innocence, to emphasise this they would be dressed in white with angelic looking elements of their costumes. The location would be set in a pretty garden, possible location being my garden as its large and flowery with lots of colours. The shots used would be at a slow pace, with close ups and mid shots to draw attention to the characters facial expressions and body language, however during the bridge of the song, something would happen to cause everyone at the party stop until after the crescendo where the characters would start dancing, enjoying the band, and the company of each other.
My final idea is a mixture between all 3 ideas. I want to be able to use my artistic ability in this music video to heighten the potential of it being successful. I also like the idea of using just the male and female lead singers as it challenges the codes and conventions whilst targets to both male and female listeners. Seeing as the song is called ‘photo booth’, i feel as though it would be interesting to play with the concepts of photos and photography and potentially film parts of the music video using a process called stop motion, similar to the practise summer work i did for art. After watching this video by ‘The Dead Weathers – hang you from the heavens’ it gave me inspiration to do something similar.
However, if i was to take this idea further i would want to make it more interesting. I furthered my idea after watching the music video by ‘Passion Pit – Sleepyhead’ where the revolving box is used like a stop frame to make the vocalist look like he is singing, along with the clapping hand, i could use this process as if in the film from a photo booth.
Once this idea came into my head, i realised it is similar to the video by ‘The Kooks – Eddies gun’, this really gave me inspiration and i love this clip below,
I feel if i develop my idea from something like this, i could end up with something quite successful as it coincides with the name and genre of the song. However, seeing as this idea has been done before, i want to develop this idea further. I really like the idea of using stop frame animation and i like the idea of using symbolic and iconic objects to represent the genre, similar to my first idea. What i could possibly do, is have a wall with different objects moving across it whilst the two singers sing at the front of the shot.
Seeing as the song is called ‘Photo booth’ i could possibly have photo frames and photographs moving along it randomly, however the singers will not be in stop frame, i feel this would give a better effect to the video.
I really like this idea and i think this is the one i will carry out for my final video piece. It needs a lot of development which i will do whilst creating my animatic, i will piece together what works and what doesn’t. To help me i will then create a mini template stop frame to not only give me practice but to give me a clearer idea and guidance to when it comes to actually shooting the video.
My initial idea is to have a simple love story between a young couple. I would use a lot of close ups to connect the audience with the two characters and their complete lust for one another. This idea is stereotypical and keeps to the generic conventions of a love story; i would use mise-en-scene to help represent this. For example, the male would be in a messy looking house or flat, covered in posters of iconic bands of the same genre, contrasting with the female, who would be out in town riding a ladies bicycle, with long, flowing hair, distinguishing their stereotypical features of femininity and masculinity. Furthermore, it also distinguishes their positions in the relationship as she is travelling to see him, i would use this to subvert the generic codes and conventions as usually it is the male’s role to be a gentleman and meet the girl, but it would work for this genre of rebellion and difference.
After finding these photos of my friends Jasmine and Chris in his new flat in Brighton it gave me the idea of this sort of a romantic based music video based on the excitement of young love and capturing the emotion created for the boy and the girl whilst sticking to the generic features of genre by their clothing and style. For example, in the photos above it portrays a musically influenced room by the recording equipment, the vintage looking guitar and sofa, along with the various posters of classic rock bands such as The Who and The Rolling Stones. The union jack beanbag also helps distinguish the English culture of indie Rock n’ Roll. Likewise with the photo underneath, of the supermodel/ presenter, Alexa Chung with the union jack duvet covers and David Bowie vinyl cover.
From this came my second idea, of which consists on the same topic – love. However, I would represent it in an unusual, artistic way. I like the idea of using close ups of the couples reactions and facial expressions to portray their happiness. This would be used throughout with high key lighting; i would also edit it with a low contrast and saturation, creating a dream like effect. Furthermore, the location would simply be a town location with the couple walking though, however you don’t get to see where they are walking too as there is constant slow paced close ups used of the couple. Until the end would you discover the meaning behind the narrative as the shots would slowly become further away, showing the audience their true love for each other as they are walking bare foot on something painful, for example, hot burning coal. (Of course it would have to be executed professionally and with care for safety reasons.)
I haven’t been influenced by this idea by any media resource, this idea simply came to my head whilst listening to the song, typically of me it is slightly wacky, an idea that some people may not understand, subverting the codes and conventions, although if I was to actually go through with this idea and created it with a high quality of skill, it has the potential to be very effective.
The idea of creating something with more of an artistic flare interests me a lot more rather than creating a generic music video and from thinking of the idea above gave me inspiration. Not only this but from watching the music videos for Florence + the machine ‘Rabbit heart’ and ‘Dog days’ it made me realise what I could potentially do. I really love the friendly yet disturbing fairytale like characters used within the narrative, especially in the video for ‘Rabbit heart’ with the Alice and Wonderland theme. The third idea i had was to have a similar sort of dinner party theme with the band Exlovers playing as the entertainment. However the characters would be dressed in bizarre costumes which i would design and create, whilst the band are in their typical scrappy looking everyday wear emphasising their ‘individuality’. The characters appear to be weird and unable to socialise, touching the other characters confused of what they are, portraying their naivety and innocence, to emphasise this they would be dressed in white with angelic looking elements of their costumes. The location would be set in a pretty garden, possible location being my garden as its large and flowery with lots of colours. The shots used would be at a slow pace, with close ups and mid shots to draw attention to the characters facial expressions and body language, however during the bridge of the song, something would happen to cause everyone at the party stop until after the crescendo where the characters would start dancing, enjoying the band, and the company of each other.
My final idea is a mixture between all 3 ideas. I want to be able to use my artistic ability in this music video to heighten the potential of it being successful. I also like the idea of using just the male and female lead singers as it challenges the codes and conventions whilst targets to both male and female listeners. Seeing as the song is called ‘photo booth’, i feel as though it would be interesting to play with the concepts of photos and photography and potentially film parts of the music video using a process called stop motion, similar to the practise summer work i did for art. After watching this video by ‘The Dead Weathers – hang you from the heavens’ it gave me inspiration to do something similar.
However, if i was to take this idea further i would want to make it more interesting. I furthered my idea after watching the music video by ‘Passion Pit – Sleepyhead’ where the revolving box is used like a stop frame to make the vocalist look like he is singing, along with the clapping hand, i could use this process as if in the film from a photo booth.
Once this idea came into my head, i realised it is similar to the video by ‘The Kooks – Eddies gun’, this really gave me inspiration and i love this clip below,
I feel if i develop my idea from something like this, i could end up with something quite successful as it coincides with the name and genre of the song. However, seeing as this idea has been done before, i want to develop this idea further. I really like the idea of using stop frame animation and i like the idea of using symbolic and iconic objects to represent the genre, similar to my first idea. What i could possibly do, is have a wall with different objects moving across it whilst the two singers sing at the front of the shot.
Seeing as the song is called ‘Photo booth’ i could possibly have photo frames and photographs moving along it randomly, however the singers will not be in stop frame, i feel this would give a better effect to the video.
I really like this idea and i think this is the one i will carry out for my final video piece. It needs a lot of development which i will do whilst creating my animatic, i will piece together what works and what doesn’t. To help me i will then create a mini template stop frame to not only give me practice but to give me a clearer idea and guidance to when it comes to actually shooting the video.
Sunday 27 September 2009
Experimenting
This is a stop frame animation i made over the summer. I used it as an experiment of using a differnt type of film, something that i could possibly do for my final thing.
I chose a band with a similar genre and used a simple love story, with a vintage effect added to each clip, this is similar to what i want to produce for my final film for Exlovers.
I chose a band with a similar genre and used a simple love story, with a vintage effect added to each clip, this is similar to what i want to produce for my final film for Exlovers.
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Film noir - genre
During Monday’s lesson we researched deeper into the different aspects of genre to help us have a greater understanding of different types of film. Doing this will help us make decisions on how to challenge conventions to create something unique whilst keeping elements the same as the stylistic conventions of my chosen media choice (music videos) – in order for the audience to understand the final product whilst being successful.
Film noir has distinctive characteristics and conventions which began in the early 40’s. The contrast of the black and white shots with sinister shadows and orchestral non – diegetic music creates a sophisticated yet thrilling piece of footage.
The typical conventions of film noir are black and white, cigarettes, shadows, guns, alcohol, lipstick.
The video below is a classic piece of film noir.
The Killers - (1946)
Director - Robert Siodmak
I love how the shots appear dramatised by the low key black and white shots. Using black and white editing is something I am debating to use in my own work as I am wanting to create a vintage looking video, similar to The Kooks – Ooh La. (see post 15th July 2009)
However, seeing as the song choice that I have chosen a light hearted melodic song, I feel black and white may look too dramatic, where as the lighting used in the video for Florence + the machine is over exposed, and almost dream like whilst keeping the retro vintage feel, keeping with the bands style and ideologies.
Film noir has distinctive characteristics and conventions which began in the early 40’s. The contrast of the black and white shots with sinister shadows and orchestral non – diegetic music creates a sophisticated yet thrilling piece of footage.
The typical conventions of film noir are black and white, cigarettes, shadows, guns, alcohol, lipstick.
The video below is a classic piece of film noir.
The Killers - (1946)
Director - Robert Siodmak
I love how the shots appear dramatised by the low key black and white shots. Using black and white editing is something I am debating to use in my own work as I am wanting to create a vintage looking video, similar to The Kooks – Ooh La. (see post 15th July 2009)
However, seeing as the song choice that I have chosen a light hearted melodic song, I feel black and white may look too dramatic, where as the lighting used in the video for Florence + the machine is over exposed, and almost dream like whilst keeping the retro vintage feel, keeping with the bands style and ideologies.
music video codes and conventions
To help me with my knowledge and development about creating a music video, I and two other students researched the ins and outs on how to create something successful by studying their codes and conventions.
Monday 7 September 2009
'how to shoot a music video'
Whilst searching the internet, i found a good website which gives step by step advice on how to shoot a successful music video.
How to Shoot a Music Video Step by Step
From A. Flegenheimer
http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/ss/makeavideo_10.htm
Choose Your Song
Having a music video can help promote your band, through video sites such as YouTube and MySpace. As well as by getting exposure on national television. If you're a film maker making a music video is a good way of getting exposure and experience and bands are often happy to give you a creative free reign. A video doesn't need to cost a fortune what's important is having a good idea and working within your budget. Production companies charge a fortune for even the simplest promo video, but you can easily do it yourself. First things first, however. You have to choose your song.
While it might make sense to make a video for your upcoming single there are a few other factors to consider:
• It can take a lot longer than you think to make a video, so by the time it's finished your single might have come out. It might be an idea to think about making the video for a subsequent single.
• Having said that, in these days of internet downloads, any track can be seen as a single, so there might be a track on the album that you have a great idea for a video for, even if that track wasn't originally planned as a single.
• Remember that it can take a long time to shoot and edit each second of video so while you might have a good idea for a video for that 10 min epic that closes the album it might be more practical to shoot a video for the 3 min pop song.
Get a Team and Equipment Together
However complicated (or simple) your shoot is, you'll need a team of people. As well as the actors/performers you'll need:
• Camera person – At least one, and maybe more.
• Lighting Person – If you're filming inside you'll need lighting, and someone to look after it.
• Director/dogsbody – You need someone in charge of the shoot, making sure everything is running smoothly, and who can go buy batteries when you need them.
It's a good idea supply some kind of refreshments for your crew – that will not only keep them happy but also stop them popping off to the shops to get their own supplies, just when you need them for the shoot.
Ideally you'll be able to recruit a team who have their own equipment. If you have to get equipment, then you'll want to get the best your budget allows. While prices are coming down, buying a camera, lights and other gear will still set you back a small fortune. You'll be able to get more equipment for your money by renting gear; many places have community arts programs where you can hire equipment cheaply. You can also check out the local colleges in your area to see if they can help. If you are looking to buy gear, then do your research. For example you're probably better of buying a higher spec Standard Definition camera, than a bottom of the range High Definition camera.
Plan Your Shoot
The more planning you can do before hand the quicker you'll be able to shoot. If you're renting gear, the quicker you can shoot the less it will cost you, and if you're relying on favors, people will be more willing to help again if you keep the hanging around to a minimum. To plan, you should:
• Draw story boards showing each scene and shot
• List the crew, performers and props you'll need for each shot
• Try and brief the camera and lighting people beforehand so they know what you want from the shot.
Filming
On the day of the shoot be prepared and organised. Keep a record of shots you've made; it'll make editing much easier. Always allow plenty of time for shooting - the finished shot may only last 10 seconds, but could easily take several hours to set up and shoot. When you're happy with a shot, if you have time, shoot it again. You can never have too much footage, and the retake may capture something that you hadn't noticed first time round. You'll have your plan and storyboard to follow, but remember that some of the best moments in a video can be unplanned. Keep the camera rolling – these days tape is cheap
Capture Live Footage
Filming the band playing live can provide you with great footage for a video. Filming the band at a gig will mean you'll be able to capture the bands live energy and their interaction with the audience. They are some difficulties, however:
• They'll only play the song you've making the video for once so you'll only have one chance of capturing the right footage
• The live version may differ considerable from the recorded version so syncing the footage with the track could be problematic
• The band's, and particularly the audience's, movements won't be choreographed, so you, or your camera person, won't know where to be to capture the right shots
• The lighting and effects may look great to the audience but may not look great to the camera
• Your filming may interrupt the bands performance.
• Live filming may provide you with some great footage that can be used as part of a video, but if you want live footage to synch to a video, your best bet is to "stage" a live performance. Get the band to play along (or mime) to the track in front of an audience of mates or invited fans. You can then control the lighting, people's movements and get the track played as many times as you need (or at least until the band decamp to the bar!)
Use Stock Footage
You can spice up your video by adding stock footage but you need to be aware that, like music, almost all video footage is subject to strict copyright law. Making use of footage without the copyright holders express permission is illegal. (That shot from Top Gun may look great in your video but you'll need permission from Paramount Pictures to use it).
However, there are source of footage that you can legally use. Royalty free footage is footage you can re-use in any setting, without asking permission or paying the copyright holder a fee each time you use it - but you may have to pay a fee to obtain it in the first place! Fear not: there is free royalty free footage – footage that's in the public domain. Some sites where you can download public domain footage for free from are:
Editing
Your footage might be great, but it'll only become a great video through editing. To do a good job you'll need patience, time and more patience. You'll need to decide the 'feel' and pace of the video. Will it be made up of long sweeping shots, or quick sharp edits? Do you want to follow the mood of the song and edit to the music or do you want the video to contrast with the track?
The judicious use of the right effect can really set your video apart. As well as your software standard effects, there are usually many plug-ins that you can download (some free, most for a fee) so feel free to experiment (most plug-ins have a trial version you can play with for free before you buy). See tip 3 in the last step for more about the proper use of effects.
A word of warning: if you're making a video as a band it's usually best to delegating the editing process to one person. After they've done a rough edit you can discuss how it should be finished, but if 4 people sit round all trying to edit a video together a long process will become torturous and, almost inevitable, will end in falling outs.
Get the Right Software and Hardware
These days cheap, or even free, software can do a professional job of editing. The basic video software for Macs is iMovie and for the PC, Adobe's Première Elements is a good place to start. The more complex software available may give you more freedom and choice, but for the beginner these package can be overwhelming and very pricey.
Any new computer should be capable of editing film footage, and even a ten year old PC should be able to handle basic video editing software. Video editing takes up a lot of hard drive space, so keep your hard drive clear and get rid of footage your not using (but be careful not to delete footage you ARE using!). Investing in a new hard drive to store you video footage on is probably a good idea.
The output format will depend on it's destination. Highly compressed formats are best for streaming over the internet (Quicktime is the most universal), DVDs are great for send out to press and media, and a DigiBeta tape is need for TV broadcasts (something you'll need to get made up at a professional production company).
Be Creative
How many videos have you seen on MTV that consist of the band playing in a club, with the lights flashing whilst the audience jump up and down? Exactly. Try and think of something different when you make your video. Filming a Hollywood blockbuster on a shoestring budget will generally look crap! One of the most interesting videos I've seen recently was of the band playing in the back of a transit van while it went through a car wash – the only cost was the car wash fee. From this simple idea they made a interesting and quirky video that was premiered on MTV Europe.
Tips for Making a Good Music Video
Beware of Using Excessive Zoom:
It may look cool while you're shooting it, but in the final edit zooming often looks clichéd, and unless done with a very steady hand can often look amateurish.
And Excessive Special Effects:
Even the most basic video editing software has a myriad of of special effects for you to use; color changing, rolling edits, split screens.....it's advisable to use them sparingly. A good video isn't a showcase for how many effects you've mastered. It's usually better to use a couple of effects throughout the video to create a certain feel rather than use as many effects as you can to make a video exciting (if you need to do this, then maybe it's time to rethink your idea. or add some more footage - see Steps 4, 5 and 6).
But Think about Adding Sound Effects:
A dramatic music video may be enhanced with some addition sound effects. If your video begins with someone walking down the street, you could add the sound of footsteps or ambient street noise over the intro. If you're making a video for someone else make sure they won't mind you adding sound effects to their perfectly crafted tune!
Don't Be Over Ambitious:
A simple idea well executed is often more effective than a complex idea done badly.
And Ignore All I've Said:
The most interesting videos are made when the rules of convention are bent, buckled and broken, so keep experimenting and above all else, make something interesting.
Many thanks to video director Arthur T. Flegenheimer (stage name) for his expertise!
How to Shoot a Music Video Step by Step
From A. Flegenheimer
http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/ss/makeavideo_10.htm
Choose Your Song
Having a music video can help promote your band, through video sites such as YouTube and MySpace. As well as by getting exposure on national television. If you're a film maker making a music video is a good way of getting exposure and experience and bands are often happy to give you a creative free reign. A video doesn't need to cost a fortune what's important is having a good idea and working within your budget. Production companies charge a fortune for even the simplest promo video, but you can easily do it yourself. First things first, however. You have to choose your song.
While it might make sense to make a video for your upcoming single there are a few other factors to consider:
• It can take a lot longer than you think to make a video, so by the time it's finished your single might have come out. It might be an idea to think about making the video for a subsequent single.
• Having said that, in these days of internet downloads, any track can be seen as a single, so there might be a track on the album that you have a great idea for a video for, even if that track wasn't originally planned as a single.
• Remember that it can take a long time to shoot and edit each second of video so while you might have a good idea for a video for that 10 min epic that closes the album it might be more practical to shoot a video for the 3 min pop song.
Get a Team and Equipment Together
However complicated (or simple) your shoot is, you'll need a team of people. As well as the actors/performers you'll need:
• Camera person – At least one, and maybe more.
• Lighting Person – If you're filming inside you'll need lighting, and someone to look after it.
• Director/dogsbody – You need someone in charge of the shoot, making sure everything is running smoothly, and who can go buy batteries when you need them.
It's a good idea supply some kind of refreshments for your crew – that will not only keep them happy but also stop them popping off to the shops to get their own supplies, just when you need them for the shoot.
Ideally you'll be able to recruit a team who have their own equipment. If you have to get equipment, then you'll want to get the best your budget allows. While prices are coming down, buying a camera, lights and other gear will still set you back a small fortune. You'll be able to get more equipment for your money by renting gear; many places have community arts programs where you can hire equipment cheaply. You can also check out the local colleges in your area to see if they can help. If you are looking to buy gear, then do your research. For example you're probably better of buying a higher spec Standard Definition camera, than a bottom of the range High Definition camera.
Plan Your Shoot
The more planning you can do before hand the quicker you'll be able to shoot. If you're renting gear, the quicker you can shoot the less it will cost you, and if you're relying on favors, people will be more willing to help again if you keep the hanging around to a minimum. To plan, you should:
• Draw story boards showing each scene and shot
• List the crew, performers and props you'll need for each shot
• Try and brief the camera and lighting people beforehand so they know what you want from the shot.
Filming
On the day of the shoot be prepared and organised. Keep a record of shots you've made; it'll make editing much easier. Always allow plenty of time for shooting - the finished shot may only last 10 seconds, but could easily take several hours to set up and shoot. When you're happy with a shot, if you have time, shoot it again. You can never have too much footage, and the retake may capture something that you hadn't noticed first time round. You'll have your plan and storyboard to follow, but remember that some of the best moments in a video can be unplanned. Keep the camera rolling – these days tape is cheap
Capture Live Footage
Filming the band playing live can provide you with great footage for a video. Filming the band at a gig will mean you'll be able to capture the bands live energy and their interaction with the audience. They are some difficulties, however:
• They'll only play the song you've making the video for once so you'll only have one chance of capturing the right footage
• The live version may differ considerable from the recorded version so syncing the footage with the track could be problematic
• The band's, and particularly the audience's, movements won't be choreographed, so you, or your camera person, won't know where to be to capture the right shots
• The lighting and effects may look great to the audience but may not look great to the camera
• Your filming may interrupt the bands performance.
• Live filming may provide you with some great footage that can be used as part of a video, but if you want live footage to synch to a video, your best bet is to "stage" a live performance. Get the band to play along (or mime) to the track in front of an audience of mates or invited fans. You can then control the lighting, people's movements and get the track played as many times as you need (or at least until the band decamp to the bar!)
Use Stock Footage
You can spice up your video by adding stock footage but you need to be aware that, like music, almost all video footage is subject to strict copyright law. Making use of footage without the copyright holders express permission is illegal. (That shot from Top Gun may look great in your video but you'll need permission from Paramount Pictures to use it).
However, there are source of footage that you can legally use. Royalty free footage is footage you can re-use in any setting, without asking permission or paying the copyright holder a fee each time you use it - but you may have to pay a fee to obtain it in the first place! Fear not: there is free royalty free footage – footage that's in the public domain. Some sites where you can download public domain footage for free from are:
Editing
Your footage might be great, but it'll only become a great video through editing. To do a good job you'll need patience, time and more patience. You'll need to decide the 'feel' and pace of the video. Will it be made up of long sweeping shots, or quick sharp edits? Do you want to follow the mood of the song and edit to the music or do you want the video to contrast with the track?
The judicious use of the right effect can really set your video apart. As well as your software standard effects, there are usually many plug-ins that you can download (some free, most for a fee) so feel free to experiment (most plug-ins have a trial version you can play with for free before you buy). See tip 3 in the last step for more about the proper use of effects.
A word of warning: if you're making a video as a band it's usually best to delegating the editing process to one person. After they've done a rough edit you can discuss how it should be finished, but if 4 people sit round all trying to edit a video together a long process will become torturous and, almost inevitable, will end in falling outs.
Get the Right Software and Hardware
These days cheap, or even free, software can do a professional job of editing. The basic video software for Macs is iMovie and for the PC, Adobe's Première Elements is a good place to start. The more complex software available may give you more freedom and choice, but for the beginner these package can be overwhelming and very pricey.
Any new computer should be capable of editing film footage, and even a ten year old PC should be able to handle basic video editing software. Video editing takes up a lot of hard drive space, so keep your hard drive clear and get rid of footage your not using (but be careful not to delete footage you ARE using!). Investing in a new hard drive to store you video footage on is probably a good idea.
The output format will depend on it's destination. Highly compressed formats are best for streaming over the internet (Quicktime is the most universal), DVDs are great for send out to press and media, and a DigiBeta tape is need for TV broadcasts (something you'll need to get made up at a professional production company).
Be Creative
How many videos have you seen on MTV that consist of the band playing in a club, with the lights flashing whilst the audience jump up and down? Exactly. Try and think of something different when you make your video. Filming a Hollywood blockbuster on a shoestring budget will generally look crap! One of the most interesting videos I've seen recently was of the band playing in the back of a transit van while it went through a car wash – the only cost was the car wash fee. From this simple idea they made a interesting and quirky video that was premiered on MTV Europe.
Tips for Making a Good Music Video
Beware of Using Excessive Zoom:
It may look cool while you're shooting it, but in the final edit zooming often looks clichéd, and unless done with a very steady hand can often look amateurish.
And Excessive Special Effects:
Even the most basic video editing software has a myriad of of special effects for you to use; color changing, rolling edits, split screens.....it's advisable to use them sparingly. A good video isn't a showcase for how many effects you've mastered. It's usually better to use a couple of effects throughout the video to create a certain feel rather than use as many effects as you can to make a video exciting (if you need to do this, then maybe it's time to rethink your idea. or add some more footage - see Steps 4, 5 and 6).
But Think about Adding Sound Effects:
A dramatic music video may be enhanced with some addition sound effects. If your video begins with someone walking down the street, you could add the sound of footsteps or ambient street noise over the intro. If you're making a video for someone else make sure they won't mind you adding sound effects to their perfectly crafted tune!
Don't Be Over Ambitious:
A simple idea well executed is often more effective than a complex idea done badly.
And Ignore All I've Said:
The most interesting videos are made when the rules of convention are bent, buckled and broken, so keep experimenting and above all else, make something interesting.
Many thanks to video director Arthur T. Flegenheimer (stage name) for his expertise!
Wednesday 15 July 2009
analysing music videos
The kooks – ooh la
Album:
Inside In/Inside Out
Label:
Virgin UK
Director:
Charles Mehling
Released:
2006
The opening scene demonstrates the culture differences between the English and the French included in this music video. The opening location is set in what looks like a cheesy French talk show, the band significantly stand out as the band are dressed in dark clothing contrasting against the light blue lighting of the set. As well as this the chat show host is dressed neatly, juxtaposing the two fashion sense but also distinguishing the bands genre of indie – ‘individual’. Furthermore by the hosts enthusiastic approach to the band and the lead singers response being ‘what’ – spoke clearly in a southern English accent.
As the song begins to play shots are then shot in black n white. As the male band member is introduced it is clear to notice the style influencing the band and genre, including him being topless, rosary beads round his neck, drain pipes and scrappy hair – stereotypical of the indie genre. Not only is this, an attractive female marginalised behind him whilst the male is in the foreground centralised, enhancing his importance.
Shortly after this there are shots of the lead singer in front of the Eiffel tower, iconic of Paris, helping the audience recognise the location. The genre is further distinguished as throughout the band members are wearing vintage styled clothing such as, winkle pickers, drainpipes, sunglasses, leather jackets and Tilbury hats.
When the lyrics ‘there's money to be made, beauty is a card that must get payed, by organisations’ are played, we discover that the male at the beginning is actually at a photo shoot and circles are drawn round the certain shot, representing that it’s the winning shot to gain money. To further enhance this, a flower is placed next to it as flowers represent beauty and happiness.
The vintage feel to the video is also enhanced by the mise en scene used. The male and female enter a vintage classic car beetle, again enhancing the genre and style of the video. Further on, new shots are introduced of a beautiful, elegant French girl is riding her vintage ladies bicycle round Paris wearing stripes and a beret styled hat, iconic of the French.
Different shot angles are used to show the girl riding her bicycle, during the middle section of the video, her time on shot increases.
However, this comes to an end as her shot is edited to frazzle out, leaving the word ‘fin’ – French for finish. Suggesting she may have been in a accident as the next shot zooms out of her bicycle left on the road with the wheel spinning.
Florence + the machine: Rabbit heart
Director: Tom Beard
The beginning starts with an unusual close up shot of a veil and the singer’s mouth, reflecting on the lyrics ‘shiny and new’, as the sequinned veil is glistening. The editing of the shots appears light and almost dream like, this is further intensified by the movement of the dancers and singer, the choice of location also enhances this. The people on shot are dressed in unusual clothing, however the singer has a bizarre head pieced on made out of gems and pearls, signifying wealth and elegance.
The dreams like aspect is continued as a harp player is introduced, close ups are used to show the elegance of the instrument. People are also shot dancing with long draped white dresses, signifying purity and innocence. Whilst this happens an old man is centralised in a full stripy suit, tie and hat, all matching whilst reading a book, creating an odd situation again enhancing the dream like aspect. As the chorus is introduced, the pace of the editing increases and a variety of long shots and close ups are used. However the long shots are very short, enhancing the confusion of the video as new fairytale like characters are introduced. During the chorus the singer is constantly centralised whilst performing a dance routine with the girls in the white dresses.
During the second verse the narrative of the story becomes clearer as a male fairytale like characters are trying to feed the singer a feast, showing her importance. Close ups of the singer and long shots of the new location are used. The fairytale characters are seated at a long white table, full of vibrant coloured fruit and pig heads. The characters become more clear as close ups and mid shots are used, creating an Alice in Wonderland effect. The characters from the first verse and chorus are positioned behind the table, including the harp player, suggesting they are following her on her adventure, or they and inferior to the characters sat at the table.
Similar to the first chorus, the pace of the editing increases and a dance routine is performed. However there is a twist to the narrative as the white table becomes a coffin for the singer and is lanced onto the lake with beautiful surrounding. A faded layer of the singers face is over the last shot, representing the end of her life in the narrative as it’s the end of the song.
Silversun pickups – lazy eye
Director - Suzie Vlcek
The opening begins with a close up of the lead singer, immediately introducing the audience to the band. Straight cuts of the rest of the band are used whilst introducing the narrative location of the bar and the mixture of male and females at the club. It is clear to notice the difference of lighting used, the bar and dance floor are all low key lighting, whilst the band are in spot lights, differing them to everyone else in the video, showing the bands importance. Shots are used showing the people in the club awkwardly dancing to the alternative indie rock band, establishing their genre.
The main character is soon introduced using close ups and midshots to establish her importance throughout the narrative of the video. They have also been used to show her clothing style which is edgy and different, making her stand out as the other females have stereotypical long pretty hair.
A male is shortly introduced being constantly centralised whilst the director uses shot reverse shot of the boy to the girl, suggesting a love interest, creating a build up.
As the song reaches the crescendo, the pace of the editing increases, representing the disappointment of the male as the girl doesn’t smile back at him. Close ups of the singer and other band members are used of them aggressively playing their instruments and singing, also reflecting on the situation of the narrative.
The video ends with the boy and girl finally talking after she chases him outside, the shots become natural lighting representing the happy ending of the song as it happens on screen whilst the lyrics ‘ I’ve been waiting for this moment’ play.
Sigur ros – Hoppipolla
Album:
Inside In/Inside Out
Label:
Virgin UK
Director:
Charles Mehling
Released:
2006
The opening scene demonstrates the culture differences between the English and the French included in this music video. The opening location is set in what looks like a cheesy French talk show, the band significantly stand out as the band are dressed in dark clothing contrasting against the light blue lighting of the set. As well as this the chat show host is dressed neatly, juxtaposing the two fashion sense but also distinguishing the bands genre of indie – ‘individual’. Furthermore by the hosts enthusiastic approach to the band and the lead singers response being ‘what’ – spoke clearly in a southern English accent.
As the song begins to play shots are then shot in black n white. As the male band member is introduced it is clear to notice the style influencing the band and genre, including him being topless, rosary beads round his neck, drain pipes and scrappy hair – stereotypical of the indie genre. Not only is this, an attractive female marginalised behind him whilst the male is in the foreground centralised, enhancing his importance.
Shortly after this there are shots of the lead singer in front of the Eiffel tower, iconic of Paris, helping the audience recognise the location. The genre is further distinguished as throughout the band members are wearing vintage styled clothing such as, winkle pickers, drainpipes, sunglasses, leather jackets and Tilbury hats.
When the lyrics ‘there's money to be made, beauty is a card that must get payed, by organisations’ are played, we discover that the male at the beginning is actually at a photo shoot and circles are drawn round the certain shot, representing that it’s the winning shot to gain money. To further enhance this, a flower is placed next to it as flowers represent beauty and happiness.
The vintage feel to the video is also enhanced by the mise en scene used. The male and female enter a vintage classic car beetle, again enhancing the genre and style of the video. Further on, new shots are introduced of a beautiful, elegant French girl is riding her vintage ladies bicycle round Paris wearing stripes and a beret styled hat, iconic of the French. Different shot angles are used to show the girl riding her bicycle, during the middle section of the video, her time on shot increases.
However, this comes to an end as her shot is edited to frazzle out, leaving the word ‘fin’ – French for finish. Suggesting she may have been in a accident as the next shot zooms out of her bicycle left on the road with the wheel spinning.Florence + the machine: Rabbit heart
Director: Tom Beard
The beginning starts with an unusual close up shot of a veil and the singer’s mouth, reflecting on the lyrics ‘shiny and new’, as the sequinned veil is glistening. The editing of the shots appears light and almost dream like, this is further intensified by the movement of the dancers and singer, the choice of location also enhances this. The people on shot are dressed in unusual clothing, however the singer has a bizarre head pieced on made out of gems and pearls, signifying wealth and elegance.The dreams like aspect is continued as a harp player is introduced, close ups are used to show the elegance of the instrument. People are also shot dancing with long draped white dresses, signifying purity and innocence. Whilst this happens an old man is centralised in a full stripy suit, tie and hat, all matching whilst reading a book, creating an odd situation again enhancing the dream like aspect. As the chorus is introduced, the pace of the editing increases and a variety of long shots and close ups are used. However the long shots are very short, enhancing the confusion of the video as new fairytale like characters are introduced. During the chorus the singer is constantly centralised whilst performing a dance routine with the girls in the white dresses.
During the second verse the narrative of the story becomes clearer as a male fairytale like characters are trying to feed the singer a feast, showing her importance. Close ups of the singer and long shots of the new location are used. The fairytale characters are seated at a long white table, full of vibrant coloured fruit and pig heads. The characters become more clear as close ups and mid shots are used, creating an Alice in Wonderland effect. The characters from the first verse and chorus are positioned behind the table, including the harp player, suggesting they are following her on her adventure, or they and inferior to the characters sat at the table.
Similar to the first chorus, the pace of the editing increases and a dance routine is performed. However there is a twist to the narrative as the white table becomes a coffin for the singer and is lanced onto the lake with beautiful surrounding. A faded layer of the singers face is over the last shot, representing the end of her life in the narrative as it’s the end of the song.
Silversun pickups – lazy eye
Director - Suzie Vlcek
The opening begins with a close up of the lead singer, immediately introducing the audience to the band. Straight cuts of the rest of the band are used whilst introducing the narrative location of the bar and the mixture of male and females at the club. It is clear to notice the difference of lighting used, the bar and dance floor are all low key lighting, whilst the band are in spot lights, differing them to everyone else in the video, showing the bands importance. Shots are used showing the people in the club awkwardly dancing to the alternative indie rock band, establishing their genre.
The main character is soon introduced using close ups and midshots to establish her importance throughout the narrative of the video. They have also been used to show her clothing style which is edgy and different, making her stand out as the other females have stereotypical long pretty hair.
A male is shortly introduced being constantly centralised whilst the director uses shot reverse shot of the boy to the girl, suggesting a love interest, creating a build up.
As the song reaches the crescendo, the pace of the editing increases, representing the disappointment of the male as the girl doesn’t smile back at him. Close ups of the singer and other band members are used of them aggressively playing their instruments and singing, also reflecting on the situation of the narrative.
The video ends with the boy and girl finally talking after she chases him outside, the shots become natural lighting representing the happy ending of the song as it happens on screen whilst the lyrics ‘ I’ve been waiting for this moment’ play.
Sigur ros – Hoppipolla
The video beings with a close up of wellington boots on dead leaves, which appears to be very childish along with close ups of someone spray painting onto a wall. However, as the piano becomes louder, the director pans the camera upwards to introduce the characters – 4 elderly people, all of which are dressed for winter.
Close ups are used to show their aged skin and grey hair. However these shots are juxtaposed as they explode a young person’s bike and run off.
This behaviour is continued throughout as they do rebellious actions like ringing someone’s door bell and running away before they get caught whilst close ups are used to show the elderly peoples happy facial expressions.
Soon after this, shots are introduced of the group playing and splashing in puddles, jumping and play fighting with each other. However even though the characters actions are youthful, the colour of the editing and the pace of the editing represent their real age. The colouring is very old fashioned, as if it had been filmed with a vintage camera and the pace is constantly in slow motion, the action on screen and mise en scene completely juxtapose with the pace and sound of the music.
Fiest -1234
Director: Patrick Daughters
The extract begins with a long shot of what looks like a warehouse with bright coloured walls. The singer is introduced by her walking towards the camera, leading into a close up without any cuts. The singer is dressed in dark blue sequinned jumpsuit making her stand out in the shot and whilst she walks towards the camera she walks in time with the beginning guitar intro. 
As she becomes close to the camera the director follows her movement and centralises her, then distinguishing the other coloured panels behind her. With the development of more instruments and the lyric ‘Oh’, synchronised dancers appear from either side of the shot all dressed in bright block coloured clothing. The camera appears not to cut at any time but instead constantly follows the singer’s movement incorporating a variety of shots using a crane. 
Clever chorography is also used to make the dancing seem playful and happy – for example when the director shoots from bird’s eye down onto the artist pretending to shoot the rest of the dancers. The playful aspect is further increased by the cheering of the dancers as they circle the singer, whilst the surrounded bright colours of the dancers intensify the joy of the video - for example when the camera spins round creating a dizzy yet fun effect.
Sunday 5 July 2009
I want exlovers
From my research i have come to a conclusion that i want to use the band Exlovers as they meet my target audiences wants and needs. However, to be able to use the band Exlovers and their song - Just a silhouette i had to get permission from the management. This is the message i sent and the reply from the manager, Simon.
Luckily they said yes and agreed for me to use them.
Time to start developing and researching ideas.
Luckily they said yes and agreed for me to use them.
Time to start developing and researching ideas.
Thursday 25 June 2009
Finding an unsigned band
Before i make my music video i need to research unsigned bands to find one which i would be happy to use. A perfect place to start my research is the social networking site that features music - Myspace.
Seeing as i already have connections with the unsigned band Dash Delete i felt it would be a good place start if i researched them first.
The benefits of using this band is that they are located in Aylesbury, also that i have a friendship with the lead singer, meaning that it would be possible to feature them in the actual video. the band also have a good band image , something that i could work with as they strong London accents along with cute lyrics and melodies. However the downfall of this band is that their recordings are not high quality, i feel this would effect the overall quality of my work as it would make it seem unprofessional.
From viewing Dash Deletes Myspace i came across another unsigned band, Exlovers.
I immediately noticed their strong band image which appears to be laid back whilst cute and quirky, which i feel i could work from. If i was to use this band i doubt i would feature the band in it as i don't have any connections to them. However this doesn't mean it wouldn't be as successful if i wasn't to feature the band. Their songs are also recorded in high quality with good catchy lyrics, with reviews recognising their similarities to successful artists such as Regina Spektor.
Finally i found another unsigned band called Blue Wall.
Firstly this band doesn't have an immediate band image or style, but that is something i could work on if i was to use them. Personally their songs are generally not as good as the other two unsigned bands that i have found in my opinion - lyrically and the quality of recording.
Overall, my favourite unsigned band is Exlovers, which not only do i like their music but i feel i would be able to create the best work from. However, to use them i need to get the bands permission, meaning i will have to email their manager, hopefully they will allow me to use them
Seeing as i already have connections with the unsigned band Dash Delete i felt it would be a good place start if i researched them first.
The benefits of using this band is that they are located in Aylesbury, also that i have a friendship with the lead singer, meaning that it would be possible to feature them in the actual video. the band also have a good band image , something that i could work with as they strong London accents along with cute lyrics and melodies. However the downfall of this band is that their recordings are not high quality, i feel this would effect the overall quality of my work as it would make it seem unprofessional.
From viewing Dash Deletes Myspace i came across another unsigned band, Exlovers.
I immediately noticed their strong band image which appears to be laid back whilst cute and quirky, which i feel i could work from. If i was to use this band i doubt i would feature the band in it as i don't have any connections to them. However this doesn't mean it wouldn't be as successful if i wasn't to feature the band. Their songs are also recorded in high quality with good catchy lyrics, with reviews recognising their similarities to successful artists such as Regina Spektor.
Finally i found another unsigned band called Blue Wall.
Firstly this band doesn't have an immediate band image or style, but that is something i could work on if i was to use them. Personally their songs are generally not as good as the other two unsigned bands that i have found in my opinion - lyrically and the quality of recording.
Overall, my favourite unsigned band is Exlovers, which not only do i like their music but i feel i would be able to create the best work from. However, to use them i need to get the bands permission, meaning i will have to email their manager, hopefully they will allow me to use them
Monday 22 June 2009
Choosing a genre
To make sure i create a music video that engages a certain target audience, i have constructed a questionnaire to find out what the consumer actually wants in a music video.
To find a Target audience i've used the social networking site Facebook, this is the questionnaire i posted in a group message.
1. How old are you?
2. What type of area do you live in? Eg, inner city? Suburbs? Rural?
3. Are you male or female?
4. What is your preferred music genre?
- Pop
- Rock
- Indie
- RnB
- Hiphop
- Classical
- Dance
Please state if other
5. In this genre of music, what do you expect to see in the video, please explain?
6. What is your preferred style of music video?
-performance
-narrative
- a mixture of both
-cameo
-animation
7.What colour of editing do you prefer in music video?
-Natrual lighting
-Floresant colours
-Black n White
-Sepia
8. If you watch music channels, which ones do you mainly watch?
-MTV hits
-MTV dance
-MTV base
-MTV 2
-vh1
-tmf
-the box
-magic
-kiss
-Q
-Kerrang
-bliss
-scuzz
-flaunt
-NME TV
these are a few of the replys that i recieved:
To find a Target audience i've used the social networking site Facebook, this is the questionnaire i posted in a group message.
1. How old are you?
2. What type of area do you live in? Eg, inner city? Suburbs? Rural?
3. Are you male or female?
4. What is your preferred music genre?
- Pop
- Rock
- Indie
- RnB
- Hiphop
- Classical
- Dance
Please state if other
5. In this genre of music, what do you expect to see in the video, please explain?
6. What is your preferred style of music video?
-performance
-narrative
- a mixture of both
-cameo
-animation
7.What colour of editing do you prefer in music video?
-Natrual lighting
-Floresant colours
-Black n White
-Sepia
8. If you watch music channels, which ones do you mainly watch?
-MTV hits
-MTV dance
-MTV base
-MTV 2
-vh1
-tmf
-the box
-magic
-kiss
-Q
-Kerrang
-bliss
-scuzz
-flaunt
-NME TV
these are a few of the replys that i recieved:
Thursday 18 June 2009
Making a decision
To assure i go down the right route i need to analyse existing advertisement and music videos.
ADVERT: The Carphone Warehouse
Director: Kristofer storm
Agency: CHI
This uses a different approach to creating a different and modern advert. This technological process used is called stop frame, made simply by using a white board and marker pens, whilst taking continuous still images of each mark made. Creating a swift, continuous animation and adding cute characters to attract and appeal to the audience. They cleverly use a simple voice over to not distract the viewers from the animation and quirky non-diegetic music. I really like this advert; I feel I would be able to use my artistic skill to create something similar.
MUSIC VIDEO: The Cribs – moving pictures.
DIRECTOR: Norwood Cheek
The director has used the bands genre and style to create a vintage style video to attract and engage the audience as the retro image dominates the indie scene. The pace of the editing runs parallel with the music reflecting the bust, hectic lifestyle of the band, intensifying the rebellious ideology behind the Rock ‘n’ Roll scene. Another aspect I’ve noticed is that the video focuses on the female character. During the video she is represented as an attractive, young, stylish female who is also the only character shot in colour, further signifying the female importance. I really like this style of video and the indie genre. I feel I would be able to use my creativity to make a video in a similar style. Not only this, from my last coursework i will be able to use my camera and editing skills to produce an effective piece of work.
Finally, I feel that I would be best suited to making a music video as I already have camera skills. I also feel that making a film based video and use my music/fashion history knowledge i will be able to construct an effective music video to meet the unsigned artists genre.
ADVERT: The Carphone Warehouse
Director: Kristofer storm
Agency: CHI
This uses a different approach to creating a different and modern advert. This technological process used is called stop frame, made simply by using a white board and marker pens, whilst taking continuous still images of each mark made. Creating a swift, continuous animation and adding cute characters to attract and appeal to the audience. They cleverly use a simple voice over to not distract the viewers from the animation and quirky non-diegetic music. I really like this advert; I feel I would be able to use my artistic skill to create something similar.
MUSIC VIDEO: The Cribs – moving pictures.
DIRECTOR: Norwood Cheek
The director has used the bands genre and style to create a vintage style video to attract and engage the audience as the retro image dominates the indie scene. The pace of the editing runs parallel with the music reflecting the bust, hectic lifestyle of the band, intensifying the rebellious ideology behind the Rock ‘n’ Roll scene. Another aspect I’ve noticed is that the video focuses on the female character. During the video she is represented as an attractive, young, stylish female who is also the only character shot in colour, further signifying the female importance. I really like this style of video and the indie genre. I feel I would be able to use my creativity to make a video in a similar style. Not only this, from my last coursework i will be able to use my camera and editing skills to produce an effective piece of work.
Finally, I feel that I would be best suited to making a music video as I already have camera skills. I also feel that making a film based video and use my music/fashion history knowledge i will be able to construct an effective music video to meet the unsigned artists genre.
Monday 15 June 2009
introduction to the course
During today’s lesson we had an introduction to the options we have for the production of our next media coursework. We have been informed we now have to create work individually, which personally i am pleased about as i feel it is a good opportunity to show and improve my media skills from what i have learnt from the AS coursework.
Brief 1
A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, no longer than five minutes duration, together with:
• a cover for its release on DVD
• a magazine advertisement for the DVD
Brief 2
A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with:
• a film magazine front cover, featuring the film
• a poster for the film
Brief 3
An advertising package for a new product or service, to include two TV advertisements, together with
• a radio advertisement
• a web pop-up
Brief 5
A promotion package for a new soap opera, to include a TV trailer, together with:
• a listings magazine front cover featuring the new soap
• a poster for the soap
Brief 6
A selection of materials related to an original children's TV drama, to include the title sequence to the TV programme, together with:
• the front cover to a magazine for the series
• a DVD cover for the series
Brief 10
A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animation or a combination of both, together with:
• a poster for the film
• a film magazine review page featuring the film
Realistically i need to choose a brief i feel i have the best skills for. From reading and understanding the briefs, i feel creating a music video or an advertisement would be best suited for me as i will be able to use my creativity skills to help me produce it.
Brief 1
A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, no longer than five minutes duration, together with:
• a cover for its release on DVD
• a magazine advertisement for the DVD
Brief 2
A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with:
• a film magazine front cover, featuring the film
• a poster for the film
Brief 3
An advertising package for a new product or service, to include two TV advertisements, together with
• a radio advertisement
• a web pop-up
Brief 5
A promotion package for a new soap opera, to include a TV trailer, together with:
• a listings magazine front cover featuring the new soap
• a poster for the soap
Brief 6
A selection of materials related to an original children's TV drama, to include the title sequence to the TV programme, together with:
• the front cover to a magazine for the series
• a DVD cover for the series
Brief 10
A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animation or a combination of both, together with:
• a poster for the film
• a film magazine review page featuring the film
Realistically i need to choose a brief i feel i have the best skills for. From reading and understanding the briefs, i feel creating a music video or an advertisement would be best suited for me as i will be able to use my creativity skills to help me produce it.
Past AS coursework
I am now starting my second year of the media course, below is a link to my work produced in AS.
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