http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=B4SfCiPosk4 (Embedding disabled by request)
Although this video is not what we want in terms of narrative or performance shots, the video shows an unconventional colour scheme change at 2.11 of the video. We could use a similar effect in our video to create the American edge we need to create.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Technical Analyis Research
The aim of a technical analysis was to look at the cuts made in music videos, what is captured in each shot and the representation of each shot. I chose a song which has already come up in our research which includes ideas of the kind of music video in which we hope to achieve. The song is by The Explosion and is called 'Here I Am.'
The beginning f the song is a narrative of a skateboarder who exits a house and jumps on his board in a city in a rush to attempt to spread some leaflets advertising a band. These skateboarding shots are put together well with many jump shots for example at 00:36 seconds through when the skateboarder goes up the grass bank, on the way down there are two jump cuts. This moves the action on, and makes the viewing of the music video ambient as the audience don't see everything. This can help for repeatability because by the end of the video they can feel they have missed out on certain aspects of the video which in this case would be the skill of the skateboarding. I found that the background and mise-en-scene of what is included in the shot is also important in the shot for example in one of the skaeboarding shots there are posters on the wall behind him which conveys the edvertisement in live music in the area which helps to understand the narrative of the video.
The performance shots can help to relate the consumers to the band and the way they are represented though shot can apeal to the terget audience. The use of close ups on the main singer and the use of a first person mode of addrress crerates a parasocial intamacy with the audience.
Transitions are important in music videos as they can help to convey the tempo of the song and create a mood, for example this music video with in the first five seconds uses jump cuts which helps to convey that the both the song and the music video is going to be fast moving and up beat. Other transitions used helps to differentiate between sections of the music video. This is done between performance shots and narrative shots where by when there is a switch, a flash transition is used to seperate the sections which helps the audience to understand the music video better. However when the music video switched from the narratie section to the performance shot a clever transition is used where the camera zooms in on to the poster that the skater has placed on the street. The camera moves towards the poster then fills the shot. Here special effects have to be used in order to make a smooth transitions so that it looks like the picture of the poster is moving. Capturing this sort of shot in our music video i thi9nk would prove difficult but if achieved would make a focal point of the video.
By doing a technical analysis and deconstructing a music video it has helped me to understand the task that has been set. By choosing the video i did, i think it has helped me to picture my own shots for the music videos with ideas about how to shoot skateboarding, the locations i would use and the type of performance shots which enhance the artists to convey their image to appeal to their target audience.
The beginning f the song is a narrative of a skateboarder who exits a house and jumps on his board in a city in a rush to attempt to spread some leaflets advertising a band. These skateboarding shots are put together well with many jump shots for example at 00:36 seconds through when the skateboarder goes up the grass bank, on the way down there are two jump cuts. This moves the action on, and makes the viewing of the music video ambient as the audience don't see everything. This can help for repeatability because by the end of the video they can feel they have missed out on certain aspects of the video which in this case would be the skill of the skateboarding. I found that the background and mise-en-scene of what is included in the shot is also important in the shot for example in one of the skaeboarding shots there are posters on the wall behind him which conveys the edvertisement in live music in the area which helps to understand the narrative of the video.
The performance shots can help to relate the consumers to the band and the way they are represented though shot can apeal to the terget audience. The use of close ups on the main singer and the use of a first person mode of addrress crerates a parasocial intamacy with the audience.
Transitions are important in music videos as they can help to convey the tempo of the song and create a mood, for example this music video with in the first five seconds uses jump cuts which helps to convey that the both the song and the music video is going to be fast moving and up beat. Other transitions used helps to differentiate between sections of the music video. This is done between performance shots and narrative shots where by when there is a switch, a flash transition is used to seperate the sections which helps the audience to understand the music video better. However when the music video switched from the narratie section to the performance shot a clever transition is used where the camera zooms in on to the poster that the skater has placed on the street. The camera moves towards the poster then fills the shot. Here special effects have to be used in order to make a smooth transitions so that it looks like the picture of the poster is moving. Capturing this sort of shot in our music video i thi9nk would prove difficult but if achieved would make a focal point of the video.
By doing a technical analysis and deconstructing a music video it has helped me to understand the task that has been set. By choosing the video i did, i think it has helped me to picture my own shots for the music videos with ideas about how to shoot skateboarding, the locations i would use and the type of performance shots which enhance the artists to convey their image to appeal to their target audience.
Evaluation Of Technical Deconstruction
By analysing a song of the same genre ('Blink 182 - First Date') I was able to see how quick the cuts were in relation to the beat of the song, and also see how many shots my group was going to have to take to create a well constructed rock video.
The beginning of the song opens with a performance close-up shot of the drummer playing the intro to the song, this immediately creates 'Blink 182' authentic band status to their audience, this is reinforced through cuts to further medium shots of the band performing in a constructed home studio set. Some of the close-up shots of the frontman also link the bands comical lyrics to the comical performance shown by him. After the first ten shots of performance based shots, the video cuts to a narrative but their are breaks in the narrative after every seven shots or so, that cut back to the home studio set where the band are shown performing to the song again. By repeating the performance shots every so often the band appeal to their target audience as they want to see them perform, but also make the video available to ambient viewing as the consumer only has to watch the video briefly to establish the comical narrative and rock band status Blink 182 portray in the video.
The first ten shots (0.13) show only performance based shots, but shot ten cuts to a medium shot of an urban area establishing the narrative location in the song, the band's van is also shown tearing across the screen in this shot emphasising rocks conventions of breaking rules. By establishing the location the audience are able to see where, what and when the narrative is trying to tell. The narrative side is shown as comical through the costumes, and the overcranked reaction shots showing the band pulling dull and humurous facial expressions. Overcranking is also used in medium shots and dismembered close-ups of women focusing on their body and seductive poses.
Within the first seventy-five shots i covered (within 1.22) three different transissions were used, one is just a straight matched cut, the other was an effect is where the cut opens like a camera lens, and the third was where the transission changes through a clock-work motion until onto a different shot. All of these could be incorporated into our video for 'Disengage The Simulator' as well as the transissions of the poster work in 'The Explosion - Here I Am'.
Through deconstructing each shot in this video I was able to establish how many shots were actually used in such a short space of time, and how the transissions work effectively from performance to narrative based shots.
The beginning of the song opens with a performance close-up shot of the drummer playing the intro to the song, this immediately creates 'Blink 182' authentic band status to their audience, this is reinforced through cuts to further medium shots of the band performing in a constructed home studio set. Some of the close-up shots of the frontman also link the bands comical lyrics to the comical performance shown by him. After the first ten shots of performance based shots, the video cuts to a narrative but their are breaks in the narrative after every seven shots or so, that cut back to the home studio set where the band are shown performing to the song again. By repeating the performance shots every so often the band appeal to their target audience as they want to see them perform, but also make the video available to ambient viewing as the consumer only has to watch the video briefly to establish the comical narrative and rock band status Blink 182 portray in the video.
The first ten shots (0.13) show only performance based shots, but shot ten cuts to a medium shot of an urban area establishing the narrative location in the song, the band's van is also shown tearing across the screen in this shot emphasising rocks conventions of breaking rules. By establishing the location the audience are able to see where, what and when the narrative is trying to tell. The narrative side is shown as comical through the costumes, and the overcranked reaction shots showing the band pulling dull and humurous facial expressions. Overcranking is also used in medium shots and dismembered close-ups of women focusing on their body and seductive poses.
Within the first seventy-five shots i covered (within 1.22) three different transissions were used, one is just a straight matched cut, the other was an effect is where the cut opens like a camera lens, and the third was where the transission changes through a clock-work motion until onto a different shot. All of these could be incorporated into our video for 'Disengage The Simulator' as well as the transissions of the poster work in 'The Explosion - Here I Am'.
Through deconstructing each shot in this video I was able to establish how many shots were actually used in such a short space of time, and how the transissions work effectively from performance to narrative based shots.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
The Explosion - Here I Am
The video for 'The Explosion' - Here I Am' includes aspects of performance shots and skating shots that we want to include in our video for 'Disengage The Simulator'. Because of the weather differences between America and England, we will have to shoot our video using night shots to create the right mood for the song.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Audeince Research Feedback
After playing our track twice and allowing time to write, we allowed a discussion to commence to allow the audience to express their opinions on the song, while Alex and I made notes. We collected qualatitive data which will help us when developing ideas and storyboarding.
Here are the questions we asked, and the feedback we recieved from our group discussion.
1) What images come to mind when listening to this track?
- Over-Cranking, Skateboarding, night shots, stage (performance) shots, breaking the 4th wall with a first person mode of address, fade transitions, black and white filter and common use of HCA + LCA.
2) What key words come to mind after hearing this track?
- 'Fun', 'Chilling', 'Drinking', 'Skating', 'Relaxing', 'Dreaming', 'Good Times'.
3) Have you seen any similar (same genre) track video's recently, what did you like about them?
- cKy - Familiar Values. The video gives a mix of narrative and performance shots, they use a first person mode of adress, and the unconventional colour schemes give it an edgy feel as well as the unconventional (of rock genre) choreographed dance routine.
4) Would you incorporate performance shots or a narrative sructure, or aspects of both? Why?
- Performance + Narrative as it meets conventions of both the band and of the genre, it makes it available for repetition and audiences of the genre like to see a link between the lyrics and the visuals.
5) What is your favourite music video and why?
- Slipknot - Duality. It uses half performance and half narrative, it creates a narrative fuzz, it is available to repetition , there is a link between the lyrics and the visuals, and their is no breaking of the 4th wall.
- Every Time I Die - The New Black. It doesn't make itself clear the first time you watch it so you want to watch it again (repetition), but it also establishes the bands rock status and comical factor they have.
6) Have you any track suggestions similar to what you have just heard?
- The Explosion - Here i am
Conclusion
From our audience research Alex and I recieved information and feedback that allowed us to narrow down what both us (producers) and our audience (consumer) feel is necessary to include in our video to make it successful to our target audience. Through question '1' we were able to see what we should include in our video in terms of visuals and how it should be constructed through images, this will help us develop our storyboard and expand our ideas of the song. Question '2' however is different in that it was used to determine what sort of mood the song conveys, and what visuals we can use to portray this. Question '4' has answered our plagueing question of whether to include a narrative within the video or keep it strictly performance based, through discussions with Alex, we have decided to use a 'skating' concept where the narrative is constructed through skating shots in urban locations. Qustions '3', '5' and '6' have helped us to understand the genre and what is expected from it in terms of visuals. Both 'cKy - Familiar Values' and 'Explosion - Here I Am' have shown aspects we wish to include within our video, and they include; skating shots through city locations; performance shots on a plain background or on stage; and odd colour schemes through parts of the video.
Here are the questions we asked, and the feedback we recieved from our group discussion.
1) What images come to mind when listening to this track?
- Over-Cranking, Skateboarding, night shots, stage (performance) shots, breaking the 4th wall with a first person mode of address, fade transitions, black and white filter and common use of HCA + LCA.
2) What key words come to mind after hearing this track?
- 'Fun', 'Chilling', 'Drinking', 'Skating', 'Relaxing', 'Dreaming', 'Good Times'.
3) Have you seen any similar (same genre) track video's recently, what did you like about them?
- cKy - Familiar Values. The video gives a mix of narrative and performance shots, they use a first person mode of adress, and the unconventional colour schemes give it an edgy feel as well as the unconventional (of rock genre) choreographed dance routine.
4) Would you incorporate performance shots or a narrative sructure, or aspects of both? Why?
- Performance + Narrative as it meets conventions of both the band and of the genre, it makes it available for repetition and audiences of the genre like to see a link between the lyrics and the visuals.
5) What is your favourite music video and why?
- Slipknot - Duality. It uses half performance and half narrative, it creates a narrative fuzz, it is available to repetition , there is a link between the lyrics and the visuals, and their is no breaking of the 4th wall.
- Every Time I Die - The New Black. It doesn't make itself clear the first time you watch it so you want to watch it again (repetition), but it also establishes the bands rock status and comical factor they have.
6) Have you any track suggestions similar to what you have just heard?
- The Explosion - Here i am
Conclusion
From our audience research Alex and I recieved information and feedback that allowed us to narrow down what both us (producers) and our audience (consumer) feel is necessary to include in our video to make it successful to our target audience. Through question '1' we were able to see what we should include in our video in terms of visuals and how it should be constructed through images, this will help us develop our storyboard and expand our ideas of the song. Question '2' however is different in that it was used to determine what sort of mood the song conveys, and what visuals we can use to portray this. Question '4' has answered our plagueing question of whether to include a narrative within the video or keep it strictly performance based, through discussions with Alex, we have decided to use a 'skating' concept where the narrative is constructed through skating shots in urban locations. Qustions '3', '5' and '6' have helped us to understand the genre and what is expected from it in terms of visuals. Both 'cKy - Familiar Values' and 'Explosion - Here I Am' have shown aspects we wish to include within our video, and they include; skating shots through city locations; performance shots on a plain background or on stage; and odd colour schemes through parts of the video.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Track Discussion, feat. Matt & Alex.
Track discussion:
Matt: The track we have chosen (cKy - Disengage The Simulator) has proposed a couple of problems, one being the fact it has an existing performance based video, and two being that the band are American, and the track has a very American feel to it.
Alex: Yes, but we can counter the problem of American summer weather with the use of lighting devices or using night shots.
Matt: If the video-shop programme offers some good lighting effects i am happy having a look to see what we can achieve, but night shots look quite promising. Alternatively there are several other 'cKy' songs that do not have a video, and do not feel quite as American.
Alex: 'Rio Bravo' by 'cKy' has shown potential to be a good video, but our mood-boards will have to be changed to suit our ideas behind the track.
Team Conclusion: We have decided to stick with 'cKy - Disengage The Simulator' because we can solve the American feel with the use of night shots, and we think these will be effective in making a good video.
Matt: The track we have chosen (cKy - Disengage The Simulator) has proposed a couple of problems, one being the fact it has an existing performance based video, and two being that the band are American, and the track has a very American feel to it.
Alex: Yes, but we can counter the problem of American summer weather with the use of lighting devices or using night shots.
Matt: If the video-shop programme offers some good lighting effects i am happy having a look to see what we can achieve, but night shots look quite promising. Alternatively there are several other 'cKy' songs that do not have a video, and do not feel quite as American.
Alex: 'Rio Bravo' by 'cKy' has shown potential to be a good video, but our mood-boards will have to be changed to suit our ideas behind the track.
Team Conclusion: We have decided to stick with 'cKy - Disengage The Simulator' because we can solve the American feel with the use of night shots, and we think these will be effective in making a good video.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Audience Research Planning
Methodology:
By using qualatitive research we can obtain focused group opinions allowing us to develop our ideas towards our video. Qualitative will provide opinion rather than statistics. This will direct our video towards our target audience.
Purpose:
We want to recognise the expectations of our target audience through the use of questionaires and a focus group discussion. Through opinions given by others we can see what to include, and what not to include, in our music video for our chosen track, and also see what track out of the two possible 'cKy' gives us more opportunity overall.
Sample Audience:
Criteria of participants; - young male audience
- interest in particular genre
Number of participants; five - Ed Brooks
- Ollie Collard
- Sam Dubery
- Tom Britton
- Doug Surridge
Media Stimulus:
cKy - Disengage the Simulator
Questions (open):
1) What images come to mind when listening to this track?
2) What key words come to mind after hearing this track?
3) Have you seen any similar (same genre) track video's recently, what did you like about them? 4) Would you incorporate performance shots or a narrative sructure, or aspects of both? Why?
5) What is your favourite music video and why?
6) What track provides more opportunity to explore various areas of the genre and why?
7) Have you any track suggestions similar to what you have just heard?
By using qualatitive research we can obtain focused group opinions allowing us to develop our ideas towards our video. Qualitative will provide opinion rather than statistics. This will direct our video towards our target audience.
Purpose:
We want to recognise the expectations of our target audience through the use of questionaires and a focus group discussion. Through opinions given by others we can see what to include, and what not to include, in our music video for our chosen track, and also see what track out of the two possible 'cKy' gives us more opportunity overall.
Sample Audience:
Criteria of participants; - young male audience
- interest in particular genre
Number of participants; five - Ed Brooks
- Ollie Collard
- Sam Dubery
- Tom Britton
- Doug Surridge
Media Stimulus:
cKy - Disengage the Simulator
Questions (open):
1) What images come to mind when listening to this track?
2) What key words come to mind after hearing this track?
3) Have you seen any similar (same genre) track video's recently, what did you like about them? 4) Would you incorporate performance shots or a narrative sructure, or aspects of both? Why?
5) What is your favourite music video and why?
6) What track provides more opportunity to explore various areas of the genre and why?
7) Have you any track suggestions similar to what you have just heard?
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