Music Video Influences and Inspirations

Before we are fully able to construct and create a storyboard with ideas of what our music video will look like, we have looked further into and analysed the various videos that will inspire our final production. This links well with our Steal-o-matic video as this presentation, will continue to suggest why we have the influences and inspirations that we do.
This is the presentation:

Costume Moodboard

The costume is an extremely important part of creating an artists image and therefore persona. This is because it is the first thing the audience will see of the artist and first impressions are what many famous artists are judged on. To make sure that our artist gives off the correct impression to our audience, and therefore fits the genre we have put together a mood board based on our research that will help our artist stand out as showing she is a youthful, fun and young artist, yet still fit with the conventions of your stereotypical folk music artist. This explains whilst we have included the autumn type colours of browns and burgundy, expected from a folk singer, we have decided to have these colours on items of clothing that are currently in fashion for teenagers, with the idea of the checked shirts and pinafore dress. This will help us to appeal to the target audience, as many teen fans are influenced by their favourite artists, so by keeping the costumes similar to what is popular now, the fans are more likely to be interested.

Steal-o-matic

Today we completed the steal-o-matic video, which includes multiple shots from various different music videos, that will influence and inspire our own music video production. The main artists which we received a lot of inspiration from included: Ellie Goulding, Foxes and Florence and the Machine.

Below is the completed video:

Conventions of a DigiPak

Today we looked into what a DigiPak is and what it should look like and include. It is important that we are certain about this before we create a DigiPak and come up with ideas, because it is a major part of our promotional package. Here is what we found out:

Storyboard

Now that we have created researched about similar videos and locations we want to use, we now have much of the information that we need in order to create an accurate storyboard or what we want to see within our music video. Through doing this it is will help us when we create our shooting schedule and therefore when we come to film we will be able to be more efficient with our time.
Below is our storyboard and an explanation into what shots we have chosen and how the shots will fit together:

However from creating this storyboard I have realised that when we actually go to film we will need to veer off of our storyboard's base, because it is visible hat there are way too many still shots, so we will need to try to create more movement than we initially planned, in order to fit with the upbeat rhythm that our song holds. Also many of our shots all look the same with a mid long shot, so we will need to vary our shot types too when we go to film. For example we will need to include more close ups and long shots. Finally we have decided that we will further need to try to include more cutaways too as much our storyboard is just of the artist them self, just normally singing.

Lip Sync Task

Now that we have chosen a song to complete our music video to, we completed a Lip Sync Task. We did this to make sure that the person in our group who ends up being the main performer is able to complete it to a near professional standard. This is because the performance side of a music video plays a very large role within a music video, as otherwise they are not convincing and that makes it therefore very difficult to create an artist image for the video and following on from that, a complete promotional package. So this task is vital to finding te correct starting point for our final task.

This is our complete Lip Sync Video to our chosen song 'Family':

From this task we realised that the best two people to choose from were Georgia and myself. This is because Georgia fitted well with the lip sync and I performed generally well with arm movements. From here we decided that I would be the main performer in the song.

However I have realised that when I complete the real performance, there are key things I need to focus on:

• I need to try make more eye contact with the camera as I tend to look around the camera and at the person behind the camera, rather than straight down the lens.
• I also need to pronounce the words or lyrics which I am singing more, this is because otherwise it does not look realistic, even though I am singing. I could do this by possibly smiling less whilst I am pronouncing the words, so that then it is easier for the film to pick up my lip's movements.

Visual Timeline

Today we completed the Visual Timeline, this goes along side our lyrics timeline. Here we have decided the types of shots we will include and when we will show them and this will therefore begin to influence our location research as well as the storyboard that we will create now we have an idea of the type of order we want everything in, when we come to create the music video.

Lyrics Timeline

Today we looked at the lyrics and when the lyrics are shown, we have completed this so that we can get inspiration and ideas for what to include in our music video and the length of shots. This is because then when we go to edit we will know the correct positions for our shots. This timeline will work well with our storyboard as it will combine our final order with he origin of the ideas and order.

Timetable of Availability

Before we can create any type of shooting schedule, or put together any ideas, we need to know when each of us are available to shoot, edit and blog, and who is together and when. This will enable us to be more efficient and more capable of filming at the correct times. Also to further make sure we are all in the know as to what is going on we have to make sure there is a way of contacting each other easily.

30 Second Breakdown

When creating a music video due to the need to maintain the attention of the audience watching it, and to do this there a multiple cuts and effects added. Also through completing this it can show to the audience the type of artist they are and the genre they are representing, because the editing of the music video will be parallel to the speed and intended feel of the song.
This all happens lots throughout the whole video and this means that it can easily be shown through a 30 second breakdown of a music video.
In order to help us complete our ideas for a music video it is important for us to complete a 30 second breakdown of a similar genre video. Through doing this it will help us to understand the speed at which everything happens and if any special effects occur that help to display across to the audience the genre. This would help to influence our final task ideas.
The music video I am completing a 30 second breakdown is Florence and the Machine's Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up):

• 0.00- 0.08 seconds- Extreme close up on lower section of face with lips. The rest of the face is concealed with a jewel covered vintage cloth.
• 0.08- 0.11 seconds- The camera zooms out slowly, to a close-mid shot, revealing the rest of the artist to the audience she is lip syching to the song.
• 0.11- 0.14 seconds- The zoom out continues to a mid shot and further reveals another two girls with her and touching her shoulders.
• 0.14- 0.20 seconds- The zoom stops at a a close-mid shot with Florence's face taking up most of the screen, showing she is the main artist. She spins and then begins to walk forward initiating a tracking shot to take place.
• 0.20- 0.22 seconds- There is a quick cut away to a mid-long shot of her throwing the cloth wrap she has on her, back off of her, causing her to be seen as more free, individual and different to others.
• 0.22- 0.25 seconds- It cuts back to a close up shot of the first shots, she looks side to side with the camera panning across to either side, following the direction of her head. This again reveals the other two women either side of her still touching her shoulders.
• 0.25- 0.27 seconds- There is another cut away, however this time to a mid shot which is spinning. This shows how she is suppose to look confused by everything that is going around her.
• 0.27- 0.28 seconds- It then cuts back to an extreme close up of the lower half of her face but she is looking away from from the lens, to the side, this is an extremely quick shot so isn't shown for long.
• 0.28- 0.30 seconds- After this it cuts away again to the long-mid shot where there is a spinning movement. Within this shot though she is dancing and turning herself, suggesting she is once again free and involved within the spinning shot. This starts to remove the confusion element of the previous cut away of this shot.

Throughout the video there is lots of movement e.g. spinning, tracking and panning, which keeps the audience entertained and interested as to what is going in and happening within it.
The whole video maintains high key lighting, making it come across summery and happy which contrasts to what is shown through the visuals of the music video. Also the video always has a vintage effect on top of the video, fitting with the old Victorian times theme which goes throughout the video. It also gives the video a dream like feel and further gives the video a more rustic and natural feel.

Permission Letter

Now that we have chosen the song due to copyright laws, in order to use the song for the music video section of the promotional package, we have to write a letter to the artist of the song, asking if we are able to use it. Through doing this and asking for permission, it means what we are doing is respectful of the artist and their music. This is our letter of permission:

Class Feedback on Song Ideas

After pitching our song ideas to the class, we received feedback from the rest of our class. From this we were able to decide on a final song and along with this the class also helped and contributed to giving us ideas to what we could put into the music video itself too.
Below is all the feedback which we gained from the discussion within the lesson:

My Song Ideas

Today we were placed into our groups for the final task and in my group is: Angel, Georgia, Charlie and myself. Now that we are in our groups we have to start to look into which song we would like to use for the music video part of the promotional package. This would therefore help us decide upon a genre and then an overall image for the artist. However before looking at songs we found out that Charlie and Georgia did not want to perform meaning that the song we chose almost had to have female vocals, in order for us to be efficient in the future.
Whilst trying to choose a couple of songs to pitch to my group there were some rules we had to follow, these were:
1. It can not already have a music video
2. They original artist of the song can not be too well known
3. You should try to avoid songs where the artist has a really recognisable voice e.g. Ellie Goulding

This is my song choice pitch:

Student Video Marking

Today in class we looked at this year's mark scheme for the first time. We began to look at the difference between each of the Levels and what we would expect to see from a music video of each of these standards. We particularly looked at what is expected from a Level 4 standard of work, which is a step up from last year, because the idea for this year is for it to be professional and be able to survive as sufficient advertisement for a song in the real music industry.
Along with this we also learnt that the marks are more split this time. This is because marks are also awarded for a website and a digi pack, alongside the music video production, which is due to the task being a promotional package task, rather than just a production task.
However, this lesson we only looked primarily at past student's music videos and looking at the mark scheme, mark them out of 40. This is what is required, from the mark scheme, in order to do well
The video that I have decided to mark is Insomnia:

I thought that the video started very strong with the drops of water falling from the tap because it involved thought beats and therefore created an intense and well thought about opening. However even though I did understand the narrative, therefore showing it was portrayed clearly, it became a bit boring after a while as it was all in extremely dull colour tones with a greyish feel throughout all the narrative clips. I think that the lip syncing was completed really well by the performer, but when it was on the performer there needed to be more variation of shot and more movement, especially as it was just him on a black background.Also it would have been even better if you could have been able to see more of his face, as the lighting was poor causing you to only see half his face.

Overall I think that the music video was proficient, and held much of the appropriate camerawork and visuals to be a music video, along with conscious editing. This meant that it showed signs of being a good video. However at times it felt a little bit more like a short film to me and the locations and long length of certain shots made it obvious that it was not a music video of professional standard.
With all this in mind I awarded this video a Level 3 and 23-25 marks.

Cross Media Branding

As our final task is to create a promotional package for the music industry, it is important that we look at cross media branding as this plays a major role in completing a promotional package, because it can help you to create an artists image and overall specific look. This can therefore make the artist be seen as more realistic and as if they really are artists.
For this to occur, you have to look at the colours, font, costumes, lighting and setting. These are focused on in great detail because if these maintain consistent throughout the Album, Website and Single an artist's image can be portrayed and easily sold to the audience as a specific genre.

Examples of where Cross Media Branding has taken place include with Daft Punk, Ellie Goulding and Disclosure. They all have a continued theme throughout their recent albums and this helped to portray across the type of artists they are and the genre of music they produce.

After completing this research on Cross Media Branding, I have realised that the selling of the single and artist's Star Image can not purely be completed through a single music video. It has further enabled me to see that an equal amount of time needs to be taken in all parts of our final task including the website and Digi Pack, if the overall project is going to be successful, as it all adds together to create a theme for the artist and therefore easily show the genre to the consuming audience.

Previous Student Videos

In order to make as best a music video as we can, it is important that we look in depth at previous videos. This is because then we are able to see what is possible and realistic for us to complete and also what mistakes we should try to avoid. It can also further help me to see a greater variety music video genres and therefore get a better feel into what a music video should look like.
The music video which I have decided to look into is 'No Sleep Tonight':



Banana Phone Editing Practice

Over the last couple of weeks we had to put into practice what we have learnt about music video filming and editing. We filmed in groups where certain shots were required, these shots were:

1. Filming a person sitting down with the monitor window open and with another camera film the monitor.
2. Depth of field task- This is how we had to do it:
•  Do a distance little and large shot so that someone looks very small in the background and another very large.
•  Place an object like a cup or a ball down maybe with grass background - place the camera level with the object quite far away and then zoom into it so the object is sharp but the camera is blurred. 
• Place your artist in the background and add various cut out props to the foreground to float around the artist.
3. Reverse Shot- While the artist is singing get them to walk carefully backwards, but to add excitement to the shot add obstacles for jumping over and ball throwing so it can be reversed.
4. Wheelchair / Tripod – we are going to simulate tracking and dolly shots. Camera on wheelchair film artist moving towards you singing to camera one take 30 seconds.
5. Tripod shot – raise the front leg of the tripod so the camera is pushed forward on the back legs.
6. Lego stop motion – 30 still shots of Lego action (one second each)

Once we had achieved these shots we had to then individually go away and edit the footage we received, certain types of editing were recommended for us to try. These were the ones recommended:

1. Cloning Edits
2. Split Screen
3. Blurred Background
4. Make an object or person colour and the rest in black and white
5. Titles

Once we completed these we also try other effects of our own choice the ones which I completed were 'Distort', 'Ghosting' and 'Reverse'.

Here is my final edit of Banana Phone:

I thought that most of the editing which I completed was smooth and made the video to this song fun, fitting to the genre/ theme of silly of the song. My favourite parts of this video are the shots where ghosting takes place, with the banana in the foreground and also the stop motion shots at the beginning. However if I was going to do task again I would try to improve the cloning shots. This is because even though the cloning did work, with three different shots beginning in one, it was not as clean and professional as I would like it to be. Furthering on from this, it was not as professional as I would have liked because the lighting was different in each of the shots, so you could see where I had cut the artist out using the 'Six Point Matte'. To improve this for next time, I would be more aware of the lighting when shooting cloning shots and would avoid completing it on an inconsistent day for the weather.