Ellie Pearmain's A2 Media Blog: 2012

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Magazine Advert

The purpose of a magazine advert is to promote the digipak. These are the conventions of a magazine advert:

Album name
Artist's name
The release date of the album
Image (s)
Where the album is available for purchase eg HMV
quotes/ reviews/ stars
a website
Font - The title is usually a different font, however the rest of the text is usually a consistent font.
Colour - The colour scheme has to be consistent throughout the advert
A scan code for mobile phones

This is an example of a magazine advert for a digipak. It has all of the main, important conventions. It has an image, the title of the album, the artist, stars, websites, where the cd is available, a consistent colour scheme and a consistent font.

This is another magazine advert that conforms to the conventions. It has the title of the album, the artist, the release date, where it is available, a consistent font, apart from the title and a consistent colour scheme.

Vox Pops

This is our Vox Pops

The five questions we asked were:

Do you watch music videos?
What do you like about music videos?
What makes a great music video?
Where do you watch music videos?
What is your favourite music video?

Friday, 23 November 2012

Planning schedule

This is the planning schedule that we all agreed on for us to film our music video.

Wallwisher

Friday, 2 November 2012

Music video success criteria

Ways to see whether music videos are successful.

1. Word of mouth
2. Number of views on YouTube
3. Newspaper Articles/TV Reports
4. How many times shown on television
5. Amount of publicly
6. Downloads (illegal/legal)
7. Charts (Itunes/Radio)
8. CD Sales
9. Last word

There has been a massive switch in the importance of YouTube from television channels such as MTV. Since we now live in a digital age, a majority of the younger generation are watching videos online. Most viewing of music videos appears to be online sites such as YouTube.

Director - Jamie Thraves

Jamie Thraves

He made short films at university
He used award-winning short films as a 'calling card' to get a 'foot in the door' with the video production company factory films.
He began shooting three very low budget music videos that cost about £5000 each

This is how the process works:

A commissioner from a record label sends a track to 5-10 directors.
The directors then each submit a treatment (This stage is unpaid)
The director who has submitted the best treatment is then commissioned to make the video. Only then is the director paid.

As can be seen for many directors in the business it is a precarious existence where their livelihood is dependent on each commission.

Jamie Thraves submitted treatments for his two best known videos and each was accepted.

Radiohead - Just - £100,000 budget - shot in 3 days
Coldplay - the scientist - £200,000 budget - shot in 3 days
most recent video - Japanese popstars - song for lisa - £20,000 - 2 days

Jamie has used the music videos to get into the film business.

He has so far shot three features:

The low down
The cry of the owl
Treacle Jr

Jamies tips

Use the lyrics but try not to be too literal. Most importantly go with the emotion of the lyrics.

My favorite music video

My Favorite Music Video

My favorite music video is 'The Scientist' by Coldplay.

This song is the second single from Coldplay's second album,' A Rush of Blood to the Head'. This song was built around a piano ballad and written by all the band members of coldplay collaboratively. This song reached number 10 in the charts in the UK and reached number 18 in the US on Billboard's modern rock tracks. This music video won three MTV Music Video Awards for the use of reverse narrative throughout the video.

One of the main reasons for this music video being my favorite is the use of reverse narrative. I think it is used very well and shows skill and thought in the video.

Another aspect I like is the fact that they have taken one sentence out of the lyrics and based the entire music video on this. These lyrics are 'take me back to the start' and therefore this is exactly what the music video does. It reverses him back and undoes what has happened so he ends up back at the start.

The video shows us the story of him having a car crash and his girlfriend being killed. However due to the reverse narrative we only see what happened at the end. This builds up suspension as we listen to the lyrics and are left wondering what has happened and where he started off.

Preliminary Exercise - What did we learn

Production

Take several takes of each position to perfect it.
Make sure the actor/actress who is miming, sings aloud so that the movement of the mouth is right.
Don't leave time between takes as the more you keep doing it, the more into it you get and so the better it is.
Film the whole song in one take so that bits can be easily taken out and used.

Post production

To vertically edit the layers
To use 'toggle clip overlays' 'pen tool' and lock layers'
To lock in and mark the music so that it keeps in place.#
Remove the audio

This will help me with our real video as I now know short cuts and tools to use. I also know how to film correctly so that we can film all together and then go straight to editing without having to go back and forth due to missing parts. I think doing this will make me much more organised in the real thing as I know what to do properly.

These are screenshots which we took whilst editing.

Preliminary task

This is our preliminary task.

Digipak - Taylor Swift

This album seems very dream like and mystical. The images throughout the digipak all give this effect. The album cover shows Taylor Swift in a bright purple dress, flowing around her. This gives a mystical feel and gives the album a burst of colour. The font used is also used throughout. The curly, hand written font also keeps with the flowing theme. The back of the album uses another brightly coloured dress and bright colours painted around the edges. This painting is colourful and abstract matching the dream like feel. The CD itself has bursts of bright colours going from the middle outwards, spiralling around the CD. This has the mystical image that is used throughout. The whole cover is about movement, with swirling patterns with the painting and the dresses.

This artist is similar to the artist we are using as she is also a guitarist and her music is the same genre.

100 Greatest Music Videos 1

Michael Jackson - Thriller - 1

This video was directed by John Mondess and was one of the most expensive videos Michael Jackson had made. The video was based on the ideas of Michael Jackson as he was influenced by the film 'American Werewolf in London'. He wanted his video to be similar to this films themes. Michael Jackson's music video, like many of his other videos was more like a short story than a music video and so it was 15 minutes long. This video was first shown after midnight as no one had seen a music video like this before.

100 Greatest Music Videos 2

Sledge Hammer - Peter Gabriel - 2

This music video was very popular and won nine MTV awards. This music video was full of animation. There was use of all sorts of different backgrounds and effects. Gabriel actually had to lay under a sheet of glass for 16 hours whilst filming this video one frame at a time. One section was animated by Nick Park from Aardman Animations who did plasticine animation.

100 Greatest Music Videos 3

A-Ha - Take on me - 3

This song was released a year before the video, however did not become popular until the video emerged. This music video consisted of 1400 drawings and it took three months to be made. The video was a mixture of real life and comic book style animation. This video was so creative and popular that it won an MTV Video Award in 1985. The music video starts with a woman reading a comic book in a cafe. A hand then reaches out and brings her into the comic book and she travels through the animated comic throughout the video.

100 Greatest Music Videos 4

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody- 4

This song was number 1 in the music charts for 9 weeks. This song was also voted one of Britains favorite videos by a poll ITV performed.This video was made as Queen was on tour and so they couldn't perform on top of the pops.

100 Greatest Music Videos 5

Madonna - like a prayer - 5

This video was known for causing the most controversy than any other music videos. This song was religion related and involved Madonna singing in a church. She is singing to a statue of a black man which was suggested to be Jesus. This statue comes to life in the video and makes love to Madonna. This raised a lot of religious politics. However it was insisted that the statue of the black man represented a deciple and not Jesus himself. Due to the amount of controversy that this video made, Pepsi pulled out of the £5 million deal they had.

100 Greatest Music Videos 6

Robbie Williams - Rock DJ - 6

This music video was out when Robbie Williams was at the height of his career. The music video shows his well known personality as he sings in the middle of a disco stripping. This video caused a lot of controversy as the ending showed him stripping off his skin so he is just muscle. A lot of channels showed the video but cut it before the ending played.

100 Greatest Music Videos 7

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - 7

This video launched Michael Jackson's career as a solo artist as he was known as a member of the Jackson 5 as a child star. This music video topped the US single chart for 7 weeks and promoted black people being involved in music videos played on MTV in the US.The music video was directed by Steve Barran. This video consisted of Michael Jackson dancing about the street using some improvised, some choreographed moves all done himself.

Friday, 19 October 2012

100 Greatest Music Videos 8

The Verve - Bitter sweet symphony

Unfinished sympathy by Massive Attack originally made up the idea of the lead singer walking down the street. The difference between the original idea and this is that in this one in North London, he is walking down the streets barging past everyone as if he doesn't care about anything or anyone.

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

ideas for our music video

This is our spider diagram that we created, illustrating our ideas for our music video.

100 Greatest Music Videos 9

Madonna - Vogue - 9

The song was influenced by a gay dance seen in New York. In certain homosexual clubs, if people were to disagree, instead of having a fight or an argument they would 'vogue'. This is basically a dance off and whoever would win would have won the argument. Madonna is a key artists when it comes to music videos.

100 Greatest Music Videos 10

Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit - 10

The music video shows the young generation being rebellious.The band didn't get on with their director and didn't actually want to make this music video. This video was influenced by the movie; Over the edge. It resulted in the 'Crowd' in the video trashing up the set which wasn't planned but added to the rebellious image this video and band had.

100 Greatest Videos 11

Coldplay - The Scientist - 11

This music video is about a car crash that results in Martin's girlfriend dying. The lyrics are about him wanting to 'go back to the start' and undo what had been done. Therefore the video showed this by us seeing the accident in reverse as if he is actually undoing what had happened. Martin actually had to learn the lyrics backwards so that this video would work. It is a very effective way to link the video with the lyrics.

100 Greatest Music Videos 14

Christina Aguilera - Dirrty - 14

This music video was an extreme way of changing Christina Aguilera's image. Before this video, Christina was a child star in the Mickey Mouse Club. She used this video to trash that image and unleash a new, grown up, sexual image.This launched Christina's career and helped her step out of her child image. This is a very controversial music video as her clothes were extremely risky and the words of the song were of a sexual nature. Also there was writing on the wall which caused a lot of controversy.

100 Greatest Music Videos 16

OutKast - Hey Ya - 16

This music video looks like a 1960's American TV programme. In the music video Andre 3000 is every member of the band. He is playing all the instruments, singing the song and being the backing singers. There had been rumours that the band was splitting up, soon after this music video came out only featuring Andre 3000.

100 Greatest Music Videos 21

Queen - I want to break free - 21

This music video consists of all of the Queen band members dressed up as women in a coronation street style. This song was a reference to Freddie's sexuality. Before this video no one was fully aware that Freddie Mercury was homosexual, however the words 'I want to break free', the use of women's clothing and Freddie jumping out of a closet is a reference to this, (coming out of the closet).

100 greatest music video 48

Johnny Cash - Hurt

Hurt is a cover version sung by Johnny Cash, originally sung by the band; Nine Inch Nails. This video shows us Johnny Cash's life, showing us how fragile and weak he is due to his drug addiction problems. He was elderly at the point of this video and so this was filmed in his home so that he didn't have to travel. This video is vey emotional as we also see his wife who is also fragile and crys within the video. This song talks about the damage Johnny had caused to people throughout his life and shows the house of cash museum when it had been burnt down to link with the damage he caused. Johnny Cash's wife died before the video was released and soon after Johnny himself died.

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

100 greatest music videos

Emailing the artist

According to copyright laws to use a song that is protected by copyright we need to get the copyright owners permission. We emailed Amanda Kaletsky in order to ask for this permission. Our group member Tina emailed her and then to confirm our teacher, Miss Thompson also emailed her. These are the emails that we sent and received.

Copyright

Copyright gives the person who originally done the work exclusive rights to it. This entitles them to be credited for the work. Therefore if something is copyrighted, permission must be given for others to use it. Copyright can protect things such as literary works, dramatic works and musical work. You should only copy of use a work protected by copyright with the copyright owner's permission.

Our song choice

We all agreed on this song 'Wait' sang by Amanda Kaletsky. This song is based on a relationship and so we think that we can carefully listen and create a music video working well with the lyrics. We found a video on youtube of Amanda Kaletsky performing which we think will help us with our video as we can see her body language and facial expressions.

100 Greatest Music Videos 61

Prodigy - Smack my bitch up 61

This song was directed by Jone Akerlund and released in 1997. MP's in the House of Commons tried to ban this song as well as the music video as it was so rude and controversial. This video is filmed completely in a point of view shot. It shows us a mans night out, including alcohol, drugs, nudity and inappropriate language. The audience get a massive shock at the end of the video when the person who we've thought all along to be a man looks up into a mirror and is actually a woman.

100 Greatest Music Videos 63

George Michael - Outside 63

This video followed up the arrest of George Michael in the public toilets for engaging in a lewd act. He used this video to make a strong statement about this experience and his sexuality. He actually mocks the police officer that arrested him by dressing up in a police outfit and having his video in a public toilet which becomes a disco. The police officer that arrested George Michael actually tried to sue him over this video as he was very upset about it. However this was overruled by the judges.

100 Greatest Music Videos 66

Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan 66

This song is from the film 'Don't look back'. This music video is from the film and was shot as one full take with no editing. It consists of cards with the lyrics on being held up then thrown down once they had been sang. This is very effective as although its simple it keeps your attention.

100 Greatest Music Videos 69

Frankie Goes to Hollywood Two Tribes 69

This video was directed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. This video was so controversial that is was actually banned from the BBC and Channel 4 would only play it after midnight. This video consisted of The USSR leader, Konstantin Chernenko and the US President, Ronald Reagan fighting with each other in a boxing ring surrounded by a roaring crowd.

100 Greatest Music Videos 73

Wheres your head at Basement Jaxx 73

This controversial video was shot in a mental institution, involving real monkeys. The band members faces were placed into the shots of the monkeys. They were positioned to look like they were playing instruments.

Sunday, 23 September 2012

100 Greatest Music Videos 78

Godley and creme cry 78

This song was released in 1985. This music video is so simple and yet effective. It consists of a single face in black and white lip syncing the words and then dissolving into different faces. The faces are preciscly lined up and so when interchanging they blend well.

100 greatest music videos 79

New order- True faith- 1987

This song was sung by New Order in 1987. This video consists of so many abstract scenes and has nothing to do with the lyrics. MTV even refused to play the video unless the band were in it and so shots of them performing live in Glastonbury were put into the video.

100 greatest music videos 85

Sid Vicious- My way- 1979

Frank Sinatra originally sang my way and this was Sid Vicious's mimicked version for the film 'The great rock'n'roll swindle' This video was made in 1979 by Julien temple and was filmed within an hour. The lyrics were changed to make it personel to Sid's experiences.

100 greatest music videos 87

Once in a lifetime- Talking heads- 1981

This song is about people thinking about their life, questioning what they have and feeling like its not theirs. It was sung by the Talking heads and was released in 1981. It features David Byrne who performs abstract dancing infront of abstract backgrounds. He actually researched into people's behaviour when in trances and performed these movements. It was to portray the words of the song that he feels life is a trance and what happens is beyond control. He acts in puppet like ways as if he is being moved and instructed how to live. This video was the first music video that explored art and abstract ideas and therefore was featured in the museum of Art NY.

100 greatest music videos 88

I want love - Elton John 88

This song was released in 2001 and sang by Elton John. It was directed by Sam Tyler Wood. It was actually lip synced in the music video as Elton John disliked making music videos. He chose Robert Downey Junior to lip sync as at the time he was in rehabilitation of having drug problems and so the song seemed right for him. He was allowed out of rehabilitation to film the video which he lip synced well. I think it was a good choice to use him as you can see the feeling behind the meaning of the song.

100 greatest music videos 92

Herbie Hancock- Rockit- 1983

This music video was a big ground breaker in 1983 as it challenged racial prejudice by showing a black man in the video for the first time on television. In 1983 America's MTV refused to air music videos if they contained black people. However this music video challenged this. It was agreed that it could be played if Herbie Hancock was only in it for minimal time. And so the video contained robotic machines, however time to time you would see Herbie Hancock on one of the television screens . This video helped overcome prejudice and introduce black people into the music industry properley.

100 greatest music videos 95

The cardigans- My favorite game- 1998

My Favorite game, sung by The cardigans in 1998 was directed by Jonas Ekerlund. This music video just consists of a woman driving manicly through the desert. The song is about her loosing her 'favorite game' and loss of mind which I think is what the manic driving represents. Five different endings were shot for this video and the result of it was slight humour at the end of her crashing but surviving and then being hit on the head with an object and falling.

100 greatest music videos 96

So Solid Crew- 21 seconds- 2001

This music video was an introduction to all the young artists that were involved. They each had 21 seconds to say their bit to introduce themselves. This was a very effective video as they each had their own turn to have the spotlight however it was put together as a group song.