How I will use lighting

This is a powerpoint showing how I will utilise different types of lighting. 

 

Lighting is a very important aspect in filming, hence I should take each step of mise en scene seriously, to create a much bigger effect on the audience. This portrays how I will use lighting throughout my production.

Lighting

In my music video I want to use a number of different types of lighting to portray different moods of the song. The track connotes many many different feelings, as the start sounds more tense and sneaky, and the rest sounds more lively and lighthearted. The voice aids the feeling of negativity which could be shown through the mise en scene aswell-e.g. beer bottles, older rough looking characters. 

This is basic low key lighting, plus lowering the contrast to make it black and white. This is what I was hoping to use in the beginning part of the track. 

In the bar scene, I was thinking of using a strong old wary lighting to match the voice and genre of song. This would further create verisimilitude in relating to the correct genre of song. 

Next these pictures could show how I can change the mood if I decide to begin in the bar. I would film in the normal bar set then add effects to create the right mood on screen. 

From researching videos, lighting in some music videos are key in setting the scene and creating the right atmosphere to ensure that it relates clearly to the genre and track. This would link to Goodwin's theory, but in my case it would work more effectively on screen. 

More research...

 

 

 

This advert would be the ideal setting for my music video. I aim to use a bar scene ideally for the main section of the track. The mise en scene is effective, the dimmer yellow lighting is used on in the scene to reinforce the old mans pub. They used the band well as they look like the extras in the background, for example the man sat on the stool playing the double bass which is layed on the floor. Similarly to the other videos they look quite smart, but in the setting they are made to look quite casual and ordinary. I could take this as inspiration for my music video.

Storyboarding

This week I also began storyboarding my shots. It is very important aspect in planning, as it ensures that you have enough film for your track. Also, it ensure that you have enough shot variation in your video. 

This is just a start into sketching some shots. This will need to be completed by this week. Further, i will produce an animatic with the sticky notes to ensure it will use up enough time. Using sticky notes defiantly helps move shots around and decide where and when to place them. 

Drawing the Scenes

Personally I'm finding this track difficult to cement an idea, and feeling a lack in confidence in planning and organising a shoot by myself. To help this I just decided to draw what I would want in the scenes I brainstormed. 

These are the possible scenes I have chosen. I am unsure weather to have him looking back, but an idea anyways. I would use a stripped back room with just an old TV and an old sofa with dark lighting. This would enhance intrigue the audience in the beginning, more tense part of the track. Also, I would use dark lighting in this scene, maybe just have a white light from the window or just using a spot light. However his face will not be reviled entirely to enhance this emotions.

Then the scene walking into the bar, down the street and the long drive. This part could build the audience's knowledge of the main character- his profile, looks etc. 

Then this would flow to him opening into the bar. This will be edited to ensure that the beat start on him opening into the bar. Then everything would tun more lively, and humorous (linking with the ska genre).

More scenes may need to be added if I have more time to fill. Maybe some sections of past women/him getting into trouble/drinking. Also, I may have the main character on his own, or the band following him. 

Brainstorming Ideas

Firstly, whilst listening to the track I chosen, I jotted down all of my ideas and thoughts which immediately came to my head. This helps visualise what I would need to film and the themes I would need to encode into my music video to link it to the genre. 

From brainstorming I decided it would be best to take forward the 'boozy' element of the track. I thought maybe having an old bar scene mainly in the video. I could also, add scenes before hand- entering the bar, walking down the street for the intro. Then, once the upbeat ska rhythm begins the main character could just walk into the bar, then everything comes from being dull, to being lively. Further, other ideas such as having the character sat down at home thinking back to the pub scene. 

Planning

This week I have begun to plan my shoot. To complete a successful film production I will need to: 

• Brainstorm all of my ideas, then shortlist the more appropriate and ideal ideas to base my music video on. 
• Organise locations, and finalise agreements of dates and ensure that all of my actors know where and when the shoot will begin.
• Get all the mise en scene sorted and ready for shooting. For example, getting all of the props and costumes ready for the shoot. Also, I would need to get permission for using and borrowing instruments from either college or friends. 
• Get all of the actors who I would want to film in the shot. 
• Storyboard all of the shots I want in my music video. Also add timings for each shot and link them to the video (rhythmic editing). 
• Risk assess the area for safety measures. 
• Organise using equipment from college for the shoot, and take away a camera to practise and get used to the focus lens etc.

Screen Shots of the Chorus of The Impression That I Get

Screen Shots:

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get

From the shot types and distances in this music video is an example of how another artist in a similar genre has performed.

It uses fast paced editing to match the upbeat tempo and creates a lively tone. This is reinforced by the crash zooms, and many are applied throughout the video. They really help emphasise the movements on camera and by the performers.

Furthermore the chorus contains many close ups followed by a long shot/mid shot. Some close ups portray an aggressive tone, creating negative emotions. The ‘boozy’ tone in my track could maybe portray a slow but humorous character. Meaning that I could emphasise these emotions by using close shots of his face and actions.  This helps integrate the band into the video showing them dancing whilst playing their instruments. I was thinking of using this technique in my performance in taking many shots around my locations. To emphasise the ska beat, my chorus will consist of many shots, plus I was possibly thinking of making the band walk in just as the beat begins.

From looking at the video, it shows just how many short clips are in the chorus in a video. I would maybe use less due to it being it slightly slower, however from analysing this video and many others, the camera movement is crucial in encoding the lightheartedness and humour into the video. This combined with funny dancing and humorous characters. 

More Music Video Research - In search of the perfect character

This video has a more harsh and aggressive nature in portraying the video. I find this video quite uncomfortable to watch, hence I will not take much inspiration from the video. However the character suits my track with the older voice and 'boozy' feel to the song. His costume and appearance on screen seems more old, and rough. 

The lighting in this video is very effective in creating a more older/evil atmosphere. The character and voice again reinforce these views. Further the editing used switches from fast to slow pace which is very effective too. The quick close ups on the mise en scene comes into great effect, which I wish to use in my music video. I could use this technique to: create the scene, portray were the actor is looking, or maybe use it for comedic effect. Also agin I could take the more rough and evil looking character, the black and white lighting helps enhance the views from the overpowering darkness. Which also has connotations of death and misery. 

This music video portrays masculine men with their builder like costume, rugged beard and hair, and look muscular. This helps convey the rather aggressive rock music. I like the way the TV shows the singer on the screen, I think it works very effectively. I was planning on using a bar scene mainly, and I could maybe have someone watching the TV with the music video on, or have a TV in the bar and show a performance with the artists. This is part of Goodwin's notion of looking in how producers brake that fourth wall in creating direct address from the character to the audience to enhance the emotions decoded. 

Overall, I believe this research has helped me find a character suitable for my video. I would need him to look old and more rugged ideally with a short beard. The costume needs to look fairly old, and dressed smart but not overly smart. He needs to stand out from the bar, to portray the 'star image'. 

Further inspiration

Ghost Town has a similar theme to my video, it has a very negative feel to it, similar to the deep growly voice in my track. I can take some of the costumes, and lighting from this video. I was thinking maybe starting my music video very dark and mysterious then brightening it up when the lively beat begins.

From this video the way the band dance I could take for my music video, to make the scene more lively, which will link it to the genre. 

This costume could also be used in my video. The hat, and black clothes connotes a mystery and instantly makes him seem more evil. I reckon this costume combined with dark lighting would really enhance these views for the start of my music track.

 

The lighting used is interesting, I could maybe use the dark lighting, but just lighting the artists face. I was maybe thinking of doing this for the beginning of the track, or maybe just have a silhouette of the main character to encode intrigue to the audience. 

 

In this video I was thinking of taking the costumes again. They are dressed in smart clothes but combined with the music, they seem more evil than good. 

 

This video combined with the next one uses lighting really effectively. The lighting really emphasises his face, this could be a similar theme at the beginning. 

This video, similar to the last uses lighting very effectively. It also gives me an idea of how to integrate instruments into the music video. I could to maybe isolate a musician if their is a solo part. Or I could maybe have a character who is a musician.

 

This video is very obscure compared to the other videos. It uses stop motion animation, and uses many pictures and images in a unique way to flow with the video. I am more unlikely to use this technique, but it shows not all videos have to link with the song to be effective. 

This is an example of how a modern artist (Will.i.am) has created an old style music video to a modern song. He has integrated both a club beat and an older style in the song. By doing this he has decided to match the sound with the visuals (using Goodwin's Theory). The choreography of the band is really effective and a main aspect to the video. I could maybe have choreography in my music video, but maybe more energetic and random- to match the genre. Further, the female character is also a character I need to integrate into my video.

My Plan for Creating my Music Video

easel.ly

This is a plan I created to show what stages I need to go through in order to create my music video. 

Target Audience

The target audience who suit my track would be more middle aged adults. I would need to do further research.

Other Reinventions of Music Videos in my Genre

Official Music Video

Reinvention

I reckon this video is very well edited, and produced to get the lively lighthearted tone to the track. The fast paced editing, shot transitions, and effects/filters they used work very effectively. Also, it seems like they had planned the video very well in order to get the humorous side to the music video. However, I think they could of used more intriguing locations and maybe different characters whom match the singing on the track, also there is very limited performance of the performer singing and no band in shot. Adding these significant features to track would suit the conventions of a ska/punk music video. This video gives me confidence in my track in how good it seems (editing wise), yet use fairly simple locations. 

In comparison to the official music video, they both are energetic pieces which represents the up-tempo track. Furthermore, the lighthearted tone is encoded very effectively in both videos. The differences in this piece is obviously the animation of the official track. I reckon they have worked it well in generating the different characters, one representing death and one alive. This works well in portraying the narrative. Also, the themes and locations used in the official video are more effective, and link more with the visuals- portraying some of Goodwin's characteristics.  

Indepth research using the theorists

This is an example of gypsy punk, and is rather unusall compared to others. It is focussed on the editing and creates a flow which works very well in linking to the track. They use many edits, in the video, in particular I reckon the version of him sining in the studio version overlapping the narritive work really well.

The video doesn't really use Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory as it just focusses on the singer. Hence, Andrew Goodwin's Theory would be more suited in creating the 'star image' of the artist. Moreover, it uses many forms of intertextuality of: Adam and Eve, Dracular, and Captain Hook. They have integrated these films to reinforce the passion for love. Some of the lyrics translate to:

get her, get her, get her, get her for yourselfand then when you die you’ll die for her.

This reinforces that the music video uses Andrew Goodwin's Theory.

This video is a further example of ska music, The Skatalites are a well known group whom have produced very famous ska tracks. The video with the song is very basic, it only focusses on the band and their instruments. This would be a first edition of a studio video as it was filmed within the early 60's. It does create a communitiy spirit and a happy gathering, the song and the musisians create a lively atmosphere which opitimises the ska rhythm. I believe that the song is very basic compared to more modern music videos, however, using a large band and the split screen effect works well.

In relation to the theorists, the music video certainly does not use Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory, due to using male musisians. Also, in the early 60's, music artists were heavily critisised in the way they sexualise themselves, e.g. erotic dancing.

I would say that the music video does represent the genre characteristics (Andrew Goodwin's Theory). The way they intergrate a large band with vast instruments creates a lively atmosphere, which links to the ska genre. Furthermore, the split screen works well in creating that togetherness and happieness which the songs exerts.

This video is very comical, which links to the ska rhythm. It has a similar beat to the song by The Skatilites, however takes a different way into producing the video. It has both narritive and performance in the video, which creates good effect to the audience. They chose to switch to the narritive in each verse and then flick back to the performance for the chorus. This could be a technique I could apply in my music video.

Laura Mulvey's Theory again doesn't fit into this video due to no characters. However, the lyrics and her visuals do match really well, and linking in a lighthearted feel which match the genre.

Furthermore, I believe the video has an intentional view of representation. This is because the visuals on the video link to the lyrics. Especially in the narritive sections of the video this view is percieved. 

This is a really interesting music video to represent ska/punk music. Instantly, Hell isn't something you would you associate with the happy lively ska beat, in this case the punk genre is exploited  Further the intense introduction, singing, and the shouting/wild tone of his voice  Also, the way this video is just animation makes it totally unique. I could take some of the evil, sly imagery to represent my rough sneaky feel towards my music track. Furthermore, the way they used the backing characters makes it really entertaining, and look like the main characters minions- which could symbolise bad overpowering good. I could maybe use this idea, by having my main singer  having associates or evil friends. 

All of Streetlight Manifesto's music videos are animations, here are some more examples: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOqenYis1iQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOqenYis1iQ

The video definitely matches visuals and lyrics, also in parts the video too matches the characteristics of the genre as it is  upbeat. Although you could suggest it was about evil and hell which connotes a negative mood. Overall, I believe that Andrew Goodwin's Theory is applied in the video as the video contains many of his principles. 

 

Case Files - Media Theorists

Laura Mulvey

A brief description of Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory. 

Andrew Goodwin

A video looking at the sic characteristics Andrew Goodwin observed in music videos.

Research of Music Videos relating to the genres

The track I chosen has many elements embedded throughout the track: 'gypsy punk', ska, and cabaret. These all have upbeat, entertaining beats which will have to suit the video I will produce. These are some examples and ideas which can inspire my choices in my film...

Gypsy Punk

From researching wikipedia, it seems that it is a hybrid genre combining gypsy music with punk rock. They use many instruments: drums, tambourine,  accordion  fiddle, trumpet, and saxophone. It uses a lot of instrument, meaning that I may have to use only a few or none at all if I can not find any to use. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_punk

This song has many similarities to my track. It starts off more quiet and peaceful until, the music starts. The character matches the quick tempo off beat style, as everything sounds very crazy and intense. The one thing exerted from this music video is the energy, the fast crazy movements and actions on screen relates to the music well. Plus, it seems that his energy at the wedding triggers the energy of others. At the beginning everything seems calm until he begins singing, then everyone starts to dance at the wedding. These eccentric actions could connote to a party atmosphere, which challenges the stereotypical happy and more calm traditional white wedding.  
The upbeat is similar to my track, hence may take the 'crazy' and eccentric attitude once the beat begins.

Inspiration

Although this video is a Western song, it has the same themes as my track. It starts very low, and tense when they are walking through the snow, similarly to the violins at the beginning of the track. Then the mood completely changes once they walk into the bar as the quick beat starts. Again, this is similar when the upbeat tone enters my track. The location in a bar could also be used due to the deep, rough voice of the singer. 

Cabaret
Cabaret is a performance of women singing, dancing, and entertaining a crowd. They usually perform at diners or bars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabaret

This video represents Cabaret music, and links to my track from the sexualised manner of cabaret and the track lyrics. The set of using a show/bar is again a feature in Cabaret Performances which I may consider filming. The costumes the women wear represents the male gaze theory (Laura Mulvey) too. The Male Gaze Theory is simply the way men look at women, and how the camera and production exemplifies this. Hence women advertising/performing sexual connotations for a male audience. Cabaret is a clear example of this with how they dress and dance to their audience. Although my song has only a male voice, he talks about women prominently, so my music video may contain female characters. 

Ska

Ska is a very happy, positive and entertaining type of music. The off-beat rhythm and the many instruments used creates a lively tone. 

Madness typifies British Ska music by using the main conventions of Ska music. The syncopated rhythm enables the producers of the music video to create a fun, lighthearted video to suit. From looking at the video, I can take the lighthearted humour into my video, the upbeat part can enable me too, to add humour. 

These screen shots show how Madness has utilised the band to perform in the video, as our track too uses many instruments, hence we could integrate them in similarly, and take inspiration from some of their camera shots. 

 

The Genre and Brainstorming Ideas

This track has a very diverse, meaning that it can represent different types of music. Ska, 'gypsy punk', cabaret and klezmer music can be described when listening to the track. It also, has themes of being 'boozy' and the harsh sounding voice being a more rough looking male. I think I could have fun with a rough looking male, going from serious/tense at the start and turning him more lively. Moreover, I was thinking of maybe adding a band too, with most of the instruments. Maybe dancing/playing around the main character. These are the ideas I will have to confirm before I film, further, I will need to research other music videos in these multiple genres to maybe add different connotations in my music video...

My Track

This is the track I have chosen for my A2 Advanced Portfolio. 

listen to ‘Track 5’ on Audioboo

The track has a mixture of elements which can connect to different genres of music. I would say it relates mostly to the ska genre, but it also has elements of 'gypsy puck', cabaret and klezmer music. I chose this very diverse song as I had many ideas spring to mind and would be very entertaining to film. 

MY Task

I produced this to show my task, and briefly what it involves me doing to gain the best grade.

Preliminary Task Complete

This is my completed fully edited recreation of Jessie J's Who's laughing Now. 

I had many frustrating problems involving memory sticks, computer bugs and exporting issues, However, I have now finally persevered and completed the task. Due to these issues, it's took till after the 6 weeks holiday to finally finish and upload the video to YouTube. These setbacks shows that modern technology does has its downfalls, eventhough it is mostly reliable.